Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi announces his candidacy for May 12 parliamentary elections

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi Yesterday announced his candidacy for the May 12 parliamentary elections to choose a prime minister. 

Abadi, a Shi‘ite Muslim who led the country in the four-year war against Islamic State terror group, said he will seek to form a cross-sectarian block called '‘the victory alliance‘’ to contest the parliamentary elections. 

Abadi took over the premiership in 2014 from Nuri al-Maliki, a close ally of Iran. Maliki, who heads the



Shi‘ite Dawa party, announced yesterday that he will be running in the elections. Abadi is a Dawa member but he did not secure Maliki’s endorsement for his candidacy. 

Maliki said Dawa supporters will be free to choose between his alliance, called '‘state of law’', and Abadi’s '‘victory alliance.‘’ Maliki holds the ceremonial title of vice-president. He remains a powerful political figure as head of the Dawa and the largest political block in the current parliament.