3 months after elections, Iraq still unable to form a government

The Coordination Framework, a coalition of Iraqi Shiite parties that led the country’s previous government, declared itself the largest bloc in parliament following Iraq’s November 11 elections, and thus is moving to form the next government. Trump’s subsequent rejection of Maliki’s candidacy has influenced the formation of the Iraqi government, as the US wields extensive leverage in Iraq, particularly because the country’s oil revenues are deposited at the New York Federal Reserve Bank. The selected candidate, who is traditionally a Shiite and is put forward by the largest bloc in parliament, then has 30 days to select a cabinet, which must be approved by the Council of Representatives to form the government officially.

Author: Bridget Toomey

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