President Designates Mustafa al-Kadhimi as New Prime Minister

President Salih tasked today at the Presidential Palace in Baghdad Mr. Mustafa al-Kadhimi with forming the country's next government.
The Speaker of Parliament Mohammed al-Halbouosi, the Head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Fa'iq Zidan, the Head of the Federal Supreme Court, Judge Medhat al-Mahmoud, UNAMI chief Ms. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert in addition to the Heads of political blocs and powers also attended the ceremony.
The ceremony which was held today at the Presidential Palace in Baghdad embarked with reciting Surah al-Fatihah to pay respect to those who lost their lives due to the COVID-19. Then the President delivered his speech as he stressed that," today, we are going to task Mr. Mustafa al-Kadhimi with forming the country's new government. This is a great responsibility as we wish him to have every success in his new tasks."
"The main political forces, the national and social forces make sincere efforts to pick Mr. Mustafa al-Kadhimi as a head of the new government," added the President.
He indicated that," we are convening a meeting today at the Presidential Palace in Baghdad in the presence of an elite group representing the spectrum of the political powers. Those who are eager to form a national government based on Iraqi national decision and committed to the reform programme, that the citizens seek and expect us to fulfill their rights in a free and dignified life."       
 President Salih emphasized the importance of forming a strong government that is capable of meeting the challenges posed by current crises, maintaining Iraq's sovereignty and stability, meeting the demands of Iraqis through the desired reforms as well as moving the country forward.
Therefore, it is necessary to seriously work to hold an early and fair election to ensure that Iraqis could guarantee their rights to express their own perspective of the country's future, stated the President.
His Excellency the President wished that Premier-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi would have every success in discharging the tasks entrusted to him.
"Many of the tasks and entitlements which the Iraqi people in all its components are waiting for still lie ahead of us. Therefore, sacred responsibility has been entrusted to us to be done," the President added.

The following is the text of the President's speech:
  In the name of Allah most gracious, most merciful,
The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the al-Salam Palace on this important day in the history of our country. First of all, I say that we are holding a meeting while our country goes through difficult circumstances. We highly appreciate the courageous resistance of the Iraqi families against the coronavirus. We really appreciate their capacity to endure these conditions in the midst of the curfew and the quarantine. I pay special tribute to you, the men and women who are at the forefront of all of us in fighting this epidemic, the health personnel such as doctors, experts, nurses, services staff, all those who are working in the hospital and health departments. Those who have a noble role that Iraqis will not forget. Their heroic struggle and their sacrifices is an honor to us, to them, to their families and to their homeland as well. Those who have a pure and large heart and who are our darlings deserve all the respects as the Iraqis see that supporting them and observing the issued instructions is the best thing which could be shown them.
Today, we are marking the significant historical events, the martyrdom anniversary of Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir AL- Sadr, the anniversary of issuing Fatwa to Jihad against ISIS which changed the course of events, helped in defeating Daesh and steered the country out of the dangers furthermore, the anniversary of getting rid of Saddam, ending periods of dictatorship, al-Anfal, mass graves, discrimination, persecution and terrorism.
17 years ago, such this day, Iraqis had expected to have a free and dignified life as well as a stable and prosperous country, but because of different reasons such as political shortcoming, quota system, conflicts and squabbling with terrorism as well as external interference in our country Iraqis have been deprived from enjoying their rights to live a life of freedom and dignity.
We meet today in the presence of this noble gathering and witness a constitutional and democratic transformation in our country. The last period was a difficult time in the history of Iraq, where we were living, dealing with, and facing the wide popular protests demanding reforms and the correction of the political trajectory of our country.
Many political matters have taken place in this country and in the heart of the Middle East such as alternation of power, the resignation of Adil Abdul Mahdi's government, tasking other nominations with forming the government within the constitutional contexts. And the political parties regardless of the arguments are committed to these measures. This is an important achievement.
 I am not to justify, but to be clear, that we lost a long time, and the Iraqi people are waiting for a lot from us. It is our obligation to form the government as soon as possible, but this is how we have done. We are committed to these contexts.
Today, we are witnessing a new situation. Mr. Adnan Al-Zurfi apologized for his tasking with forming the government. He sent us an official letter in this regard. I want to thank brother Al-Zurfi for his commitment and his assessment to the national interest and his courageous stances in these circumstances. I spoke to him a little while ago, and he confirmed his support for the political trajectory in Iraq in the ways that bring all Iraqis together, therefore I thank him and I appreciate his stance.
Today, we are going to task Mr. Mustafa al-Kadhimi with forming the country's new government. He is a patriot and cultural figure. Furthermore, he is well known for his integrity, moderation, giving consideration for all Iraqis regarding their general rights.
 A great responsibility that will be entrusted to my brother Mr. Musataf al-Kadhimi. We wish him every success in his new tasks. But I also want to stand on an important fact, in the last period of the Iraqi politics many sharp disagreements emerged between Iraqi politicians and different political factions.
By the grace of God and the honest efforts of faithful figures, today the main political forces and the national, social forces agreed to choose Mr. Mustafa al-kadhimi as the Country's new Prime Minister. It’s a remarkable day that we are past the hard stage. This fact gives grounds to question and to doubt the political trajectory in Iraq. I don't want to go into all details, but the lesson is into what has happened.
We are convening a meeting today at the Presidential Palace in Baghdad in the presence of an elite group representing the spectrum of the political powers. Those who are eager to form a national government based on Iraqi national decision and committed to the reform programme, that the citizens seek and expect us to fulfill their rights in a free and dignified life.
May Allah help Mr. Mustafa and enable him to perform his next functions. I have no doubt that all of us will be a great assistance as you will be helpful for this country.
 After we finish this period, we will embark on holding free and fair elections that give the Iraqi citizen the right to choose his government through honest and genuine elections. We have confidence that your government will work on addressing the consequences of the health, economic and financial crisis sweeping our country.
While all of that is going on in our country, we need to recognize that we should preserve and boost our state. And we have to build a capable and sovereign State based on an Iraqi national decision.
I have the honor to give you the letter of designation. I also wish you to have all the success.

Presedent