Apr 9, 2020

With the appointment of intelligence chief Mustafa al-Kadhimi as Iraq's new prime minister-designate, Iraq’s President Barham Salih is attempting for the third time this year to end a months-long political deadlock.

Kadhimi is the latest candidate tasked with forming a government after Adnan al-Zurfi, unable to obtain support among Iraq's political parties, withdrew his bid Thursday morning.

"This decision will not stop me from serving the public through my current parliamentary position. I will continue to work and prepare the country for the upcoming early elections and other challenges," Zurfi said on Twitter.

Already facing resistance from Shiite blocs who labeled him a "candidate of the CIA,” Zurfi’s candidacy was dealt a major blow when the parliament’s main Kurdish and Sunni parties pulled their support for the former Najaf governor this week.

Iraq’s political crisis kicked off in late November when Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned amid sweeping anti-government protests aimed at dismantling the political establishment. Salih then tapped Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, a former communications minister, who withdrew his candidacy for the premiership a month later.