Paramilitary strongman sets sights on Iraq premiership
In elections that will shape the trajectory Iraq takes after being consumed for four years by the fight against Isis, Mr Ameri has emerged as one of the country’s most powerful figures. His new political bloc, Fatah, is considered a main challenger in prime minister Haider al-Abadi’s quest for a second term. The incumbent’s Shia-dominated […]Andrew England writes for Financial Times:
In elections that will shape the trajectory Iraq takes after being consumed for four years by the fight against Isis, Mr Ameri has emerged as one of the country’s most powerful figures. His new political bloc, Fatah, is considered a main challenger in prime minister Haider al-Abadi’s quest for a second term.
The incumbent’s Shia-dominated Nasr list is expected to win a plurality, with Fatah running second. But given the fragmented nature of Iraqi politics, with months of post-election horse-trading and coalition-building the norm, Mr Ameri — viewed by many as pro-Iran — will be a key powerbroker.
