File Photo: Ali Al-Zaidi. Photo courtesy of Tasnim.
"President Nizar Amede has tasked Ali al-Zaidi, the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc, with forming the new government," the presidency said in a statement.
Al-Ahd TV, affiliated with the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement led by Sheikh Qais al-Khazali, reported that arrangements for the official appointment ceremony are currently underway inside the government building, in the presence of Amidi, Speaker of Parliament Haibat al-Halbousi, and Chief Justice Faiq Zaidan.
Leaders of the Coordination Framework -- a ruling coalition of Shia groups who had initially nominated Nouri al-Maliki-- have been locked in intense discussions to settle the question of the premiership, but to no avail.
They have met three times this week.
After Friday's meeting, the INA state news agency reported that they would meet again on Saturday to "decide on the candidate for the prime minister".
In January, US President Donald Trump threatened to stop supporting Iraq if Maliki -- a two-time former premier with close ties to Iran -- returned to the post.
In Iraq, a nomination by the largest Shiite bloc effectively brings a candidate to power through presidential appointment, but Trump's threats reshuffled the cards.
Although the Coordination Framework has not yet officially withdrawn its backing for Maliki, its leaders discussed other potential candidates.
They included incumbent premier Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, intelligence chief Hamid al-Shatri, and Bassem al-Badri, who heads a committee that bars members of Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath party from public office.
Iraq has long walked a tightrope between the competing influences of its allies, neighbouring Iran and its archfoe, the United States.
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