Iraqi parliament elects US-backed ex-spy chief Mustafa al-Kadhimi as prime minister to form first government in months

THE Iraqi parliament selected a US-backed former spy chief to be its new prime minister on Thursday as the country formed its first government since the end of last year.

Mustafa al-Kadhimi was sworn in as PM following weeks of tense political negotiations and the resignation of predecessor Adel Abdul Mahdi.

Kadhimi was the third candidate chosen by the country's fragmented political blocs after the previous two failed to get broad support.

"The security, stability and blossoming of Iraq is our path," Kadhimi wrote on Twitter after the vote.

He becomes Iraq’s sixth premier since 2003, ending five months of a leadership void.

Abdul Mahdi had been leading a caretaker government when he stepped down last year.

“This government came as a response to the social, economic and political crises our country is facing,” Kadhimi said as he addressed lawmakers.

“It is a government that will provide solutions, not add to the crises.”

He had to change his list of proposed ministers multiple times in the past week to satisfy the fragmented political blocs.

The ex-intelligence chief is also a former journalist.

Abdul Mahdi resigned last year as thousands of protesters took to the streets and demanded jobs and the ouster of the ruling elite.

Iraqi officials say Kadhimi is acceptable to both the US and Iran.

Negotiations are set to take place with the US next month.

It was announced Wednesday that the US will grant a 120-day waiver for Iraq to continue importing electricity from Iran to help the new Iraqi government succeed.

“In support of the new government the United States will move forward with a 120-day electricity waiver as a display of our desire to help provide the right conditions for success,” the State Department said in a statement on a call between Pompeo and Kadhimi.

Relations between Iraq and the US suffered after an airstrike killed top Iranian general Qassim Soleimani in January.

The new leader will immediately have multiple crises on his plate, including falling oil revenues and the coronavirus pandemic.

The vacuum in leadership has left the country without an approved budget law.