Iraqi President Barham Salih gave Shiite political blocs until next Monday to agree on the nomination of a new prime minister, Asharq Al-Awsat learned from an informed political source.
The re-assignment of acting Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, in light of a semi US-Iranian compromise, is one of the options proposed should Shiite leadership fail to make a final decision.
Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Allawi had withdrawn his candidacy for the post, accusing political parties of obstructing him, deepening a domestic crisis and threatening an unprecedented power vacuum.
According to the political source, who requested anonymity, Salih sent a letter to Shiite leaders involved in the matter during the past two days.
In the message, Salih urged them to agree on a new candidate no later than next Monday, which marks the end of the constitutional deadline.
The source added that “Salih clearly affirmed that violating the constitutional deadline cannot be justified under any pretext.”
More so, article 76 of the Iraqi constitution gives Salih the power to assign whoever he deems appropriate for the post without the largest parliamentary blocs if the deadline is passed.
On the other hand, Salih stressed the necessity of respecting the will of Iraq in its independent national decision-making.
Earlier on Wednesday, Salih received French Ambassador to Iraq Bruno Aubert at the Presidential Palace in Baghdad.
During the meeting, the President and Aubert examined the friendly relations between the two countries. They discussed ways to further develop the bilateral ties across all the fields as well as the importance of continuing cooperation so as to serve the interest of both friendly peoples.
Iraq's will in taking its independent national decision as well as on protecting Iraq's security, stability and sovereignty must be respected, the two sides agreed and emphasized.
Jointly, they reviewed the recent political and security developments at the regional and international levels and the need to enhance the prospects of peace by adopting a serious and constructive dialogue in addressing the region's crises.
