Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Adnan Al-Zarfi revealed his priorities in the event that his government formation succeeds in gaining the confidence of Parliament, and he said that he will seek to change the negative attitude of the world towards Iraq and hold the demonstrators accountable. This comes in conjunction with the start of five Iraqi blocs dialogue to present a new candidate for prime minister, and Haider al-Abadi's coalition rejected this trend.

Al-Zorfi said - in statements to a group of journalists today - that his assignment from President Barham Saleh is natural and was not the result of a deal with him, stressing that it is an Iraqi option first and last and not an American option as some accuse him, explaining that he went to the United States and obtained his citizenship obligated after being narrowed by it Prisons and detention centers during the previous regime.

He pointed out that he will seek to change the negative world view towards Iraq and build balanced relations with regional and international powers on the basis of common interests with a priority for national reconciliation, pointing out that he started his consultations to form a government and his progress in that is in agreement with all political parties and components.

He stressed that the duration of his government’s tasks will be one year during which preparations are made for early elections, stressing in this regard his willingness to hold these elections within three months if the political blocs agree to this.

Al-Zarfi summarized his government program according to the challenges facing the country, the most prominent of which is "the external challenge, including the Security Council and the International Alliance, as the position on Iraq appears negative, and we may face sanctions unless this is taken into consideration."

The second challenge, according to Al-Zarfi, is "for the people's protests, which must be dealt with as a priority, especially since the primary demand of the demonstrators is to hold early elections, which must be worked on, as well as dealing seriously with the file of killing and kidnapping the demonstrators, as this cannot be condoned under Any excuse. "

He pointed out that the challenge of the financial crisis that Iraq is currently experiencing due to the collapse of oil prices, is one of the most important things that must be faced and working on it in all seriousness, noting that "Iraq now lives on the cash surplus provided by the government of Haider al-Abadi."

He said that the last challenge is the Corona virus, which requires a serious pause at all levels.

Al-Abadi rejected efforts by political blocs to present an alternative candidate for Zorfi (Reuters)

Split on commissioning
While Zarrafi embarked on a series of informal consultations with several political parties awaiting the Shiite blocs taking a decisive stance towards his mandate, these blocs continue - the State of Law coalition (26 seats in Parliament out of 329), the Al-Fateh coalition (48 seats), and the National Contract Bloc (18 Seats), the National Approach Bloc (8 seats), and the National Wisdom Movement (19 seats) - dialogues to agree to present a new candidate to the President of the Republic in his place, explaining this by the mechanism of his choice and that it is in violation of the constitution.

On the other hand, the victory coalition led by former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi rejected the dialogues that are being held to present a candidate instead of Zarfi.

The coalition - whose membership includes Al-Zrafi - said in a statement that "the ongoing dialogues regarding the nomination of a new candidate for prime minister are against the constitution, and the mandate and the appointment of a new representative cannot be nullified before the end of the constitutional period."

He stressed the need to "give the taxpayer his constitutional opportunity, in compliance with the legal contexts and national solidarity."

And last week, Iraqi President Barham Saleh commissioned Al-Zrafi to form the new government, after former Prime Minister-designate Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi stepped down after failing to persuade the political blocs to support his cabinet and his government program.

The next government will succeed the government of Adel Abdul-Mahdi, who resigned on the first of last December, under the pressure of continuous popular protests since the beginning of last October.