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Al-Zaydi: We will form a government that responds to the citizens' demands for establishing security and stability.
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Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zidi affirmed on Monday (April 27, 2026) his intention to work with all political forces to form a new government that responds to the demands of citizens and contributes to consolidating security and stability and achieving comprehensive development in the country.
Al-Zaydi said in his first statement after being appointed, as reported by Baghdad Today, that “we are determined to work with various political forces to form a government capable of meeting the aspirations of Iraqis,” stressing the importance of national cooperation to overcome current challenges.
Al-Zaydi’s statement comes after he was officially tasked by the President of the Republic with forming the new government, following his nomination by the largest parliamentary bloc within the House of Representatives.
Ali al-Zaidi: From banking and administration to the Iraqi Prime Ministership (Profile)
President Nizar Amidi tasked him with forming the government, following the "Coordination Framework's" agreement on his nomination for the position of Prime Minister.
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On Monday evening, Iraqi President Nizar Amidi tasked Ali al-Zaidi with forming the new government, following the agreement of the largest parliamentary bloc, the "Coordination Framework," to nominate him for the position of Prime Minister.
The consensus on al-Zaydi was strengthened after the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, and the head of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, announced their withdrawal from the nomination, which paved the way for al-Zaydi to be the candidate of the “largest bloc,” according to a previous statement issued by the framework.
Earlier on Monday, the "Coordination Framework" announced that its political forces had agreed to nominate Ali al-Zaidi for the position of Prime Minister, a day after Iraq exceeded the time limit set by the constitution for appointing a candidate for the premiership, plunging the country into a state of "constitutional vacuum".
The “Coordination Framework” is the political umbrella that unites the main Shiite forces in Iraq (excluding the Sadrist movement). It was established after the 2021 elections to ensure political balance, and includes significant coalitions, most notably the “State of Law” led by Nouri al-Maliki, the “Fatah Alliance” led by Hadi al-Amiri, and the “State Forces” headed by Ammar al-Hakim.
** Professional and social life
Al-Zaydi (40 years old) comes from Dhi Qar Governorate in southern Iraq, to a family known for its social presence, according to the official news agency “WAA”.
On the academic level, Al-Zaydi obtained a master’s degree in finance and banking, preceded by two bachelor’s degrees in the same specialization in addition to law.
Al-Zaydi progressed through a number of administrative positions, as he chaired the boards of directors of: “The National Holding Company”, “The People’s University”, “Ishtar Medical Institute”, and “The Southern Bank” (formerly).
He also gained membership in the Iraqi Bar Association.
The official agency stated that Al-Zaidi's policies are based on "conducting a comprehensive institutional reform, achieving sustainable economic development, empowering youth, and linking education to the labor market."
Political context
Following his official appointment, Al-Zaidi faces the task of forming a government and leading the executive authority amidst internal and external political and security challenges.
The agreement on al-Zaydi came as a decisive "political way out" that ended the state of deadlock and constitutional failure that the country witnessed after the legal deadline for the assignment had passed.
On April 11, the Iraqi parliament elected Nizar Amidi as president of the country. Paragraph (a) of Article 76 of the constitution stipulates that "the President of the Republic shall, within 15 days from the date of his election, task the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc with forming the Council of Ministers," which means that the constitutional deadline ended on Sunday.
According to a quota system between political forces, the position of President of the Republic is allocated to the Kurdish component and is occupied by Amidi, while the position of Prime Minister is for the Shiite component, and the position of Speaker of Parliament is for the Sunni component and is occupied by Hebat al-Halbousi.
The constitutional failure came as a result of the inability of the “coordination framework” (the largest parliamentary bloc) to translate its parliamentary weight into a decisive decision within the fifteen-day period granted to the President of the Republic since his election to complete the assignment process, due to internal disputes in addition to external pressures, specifically American ones.
US President Donald Trump’s statements rejecting Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination created a major obstacle, leading to a divergence of opinions within the framework between adhering to sovereignty in the choice and fearing international isolation.
The Prime Minister-designate: We will form a government that responds to the demands of the citizens.
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Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi affirmed on Monday his intention to work with all political forces to form a new government that responds to the demands of citizens and contributes to consolidating security and stability and achieving comprehensive development in the country.
In his first statement after being appointed, Al-Zaydi said, “We are determined to work with various political forces to form a government capable of meeting the aspirations of Iraqis,” stressing the importance of national cooperation to overcome current challenges.
Al-Zaydi’s statement comes after he was officially tasked by the President of the Republic with forming the new government, following his nomination by the largest parliamentary bloc within the House of Representatives.
Electronic payment and service level
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The electronic payment sector in Iraq is witnessing rapid growth driven by digital transformation and the expansion of financial services. We fully recognize that expanding electronic payment services is a crucial step in improving the quality of services provided to citizens. It facilitates daily transactions and reduces reliance on cash, saving time and effort, minimizing complexity and waiting times at institutions and service centers. This trend also enhances financial transparency and improves performance efficiency in both the public and private sectors. Furthermore, it provides broader opportunities for financial inclusion, enabling larger segments of society to access modern banking services. This, in turn, positively impacts economic stability and improves the overall level of service provided to citizens.
The Iraqi market is virgin and can accommodate a large volume of work. Here, the door to competition between workers in this field must be strengthened in the growing and large sector within Iraq, as the country needs a great and extensive effort in the field of electronic payment.
In fact, we feel the support of the Central Bank of Iraq and we hope for more for the electronic payment family within the Iraqi labor market, and that it will be the regulator that sponsors everyone to achieve the goals of the existence of electronic payment in Iraq, which is a destination for many specialists in this regard.
Upgrading electronic payment services in Iraq requires a great effort and must keep pace with global developments in this important field, which has become increasingly relevant to the lives of Iraqi families who interact with its products day after day.
Here, the new market must witness continuous development within the field of electronic payment, as the Iraqi citizen has begun to closely follow all the new developments in this field and the extent to which they are suitable for his needs and life requirements.
The support of the Central Bank of Iraq for this sector is a key success factor and a fundamental element in establishing trust between citizens and electronic payment institutions, through setting clear regulatory frameworks and monitoring the required technical and security standards, which ensures the protection of users’ funds and rights. Moreover, effective oversight contributes to creating a stable working environment that encourages investment and drives companies to develop their services and products in line with citizens’ needs.
Conversely, the success of the electronic payment system is linked to increasing societal awareness of the importance of these services and the mechanisms for using them. Providing technical means is not enough without building a digital financial culture among citizens. Therefore, education and awareness campaigns, along with the continuous development of the digital infrastructure and the expansion of service points, represent essential pillars to ensure the wider dissemination of these services and to achieve economic and social benefit.
The future of electronic payments in Iraq depends not only on quantitative expansion, but also on the quality of the competitive environment, which ultimately reflects on enhancing financial inclusion and building a sustainable digital economy.
The National Bank of Iraq announced on Sunday an increase in the bank's capital from 520 billion Iraqi dinars to 650 billion Iraqi dinars, through capitalizing part of the retained earnings and distributing 25% free shares to shareholders, stressing that it is a strategic step aimed at strengthening the capital base and supporting expansion and growth plans .
The bank said in a statement that "the decision was taken during the bank's annual general meeting, attended by shareholders in person and by proxy who own (90.69%) of the capital. The general assembly approved the distribution of cash dividends at a rate of 25%, the discharge of the chairman and members of the board of directors, and the appointment of auditors for the fiscal year 2026."
The statement quoted the bank’s chairman, Basim Khalil Al-Salem, as saying, “The decision to increase capital reflects the shareholders’ confidence in the bank’s strong financial position and constitutes a pivotal step in its growth journey. He pointed out that 2025 was an exceptional milestone in the bank’s journey, as it was able to achieve qualitative accomplishments that reflect the strength of its performance and its flexibility in facing economic challenges, and to enhance its presence as a leading financial institution in the Iraqi banking sector, thanks to a clear strategic vision, prudent management, and a committed team.”
He added that “during the past year, the bank continued to expand its services and strengthen its competitive position, achieving strong financial performance that reflects the confidence of its customers and shareholders, in a flexible banking environment, supported by the policies of the Central Bank of Iraq, which contributed to maintaining monetary stability and enhancing the strength of the banking sector and the confidence of depositors.”
Al-Salem explained that "the bank achieved net profits after tax of about 308 billion Iraqi dinars, compared to about 252 billion Iraqi dinars in the previous year, while its total assets increased to about 6.5 trillion Iraqi dinars, as a result of the continued growth in various banking activities."
He explained that “customer deposits increased from about 3.5 trillion Iraqi dinars to about 4 trillion Iraqi dinars, with a growth rate of about 15%, while direct credit facilities increased from about 1.8 trillion Iraqi dinars to about 2.8 trillion Iraqi dinars, with a growth rate of 56%, driven by the expansion in financing individuals and companies of various categories.”
Al-Salem pointed out that "the bank has strengthened its presence in international cooperation, through the signing of a credit financing agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) worth $100 million, which is the first of its kind in Iraq and aims to support trade finance activities, thus contributing to strengthening its role in supporting the Iraqi economy."
Al-Salem stressed "the importance of partnership with various entities supporting the banking sector," appreciating "the efforts led by the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq in consolidating monetary stability and enhancing the sector's resilience, and praising the role played by regulatory bodies in supporting the banking environment, including the Securities Commission, the Companies Registration Department, the Iraq Stock Exchange, and the Association of Iraqi Private Banks, for their role in promoting the stability of the financial sector and supporting the economic growth process."
For his part, the Managing Director of the National Bank of Iraq, Ayman Abu Dahim, affirmed that “the bank continues to implement a comprehensive digital transformation strategy aimed at building a sustainable and advanced banking infrastructure that supports innovation and keeps pace with the rapid developments in financial technologies, in order to ensure the provision of modern, secure and easily accessible banking services to customers,” noting that “during 2025, the bank worked to enhance its operational efficiency by applying the SWIFT MX standard and adopting advanced automation solutions for preparing reports in accordance with IFRS9 standards , which contributes to raising the levels of efficiency and compliance.”
As part of the bank's expansion of its services, Abu Dahim added that "the ATM network has witnessed a remarkable expansion, reaching 424 devices, and the bank's branch network has reached 41 branches and 3 offices spread across various governorates of Iraq, in addition to the bank's branch in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has contributed to strengthening financial and commercial integration between the Iraqi and Saudi markets."
Regarding future plans, Abu Dahim explained that "the bank is steadily implementing its expansion plans for 2026, which include opening about 15 new branches, bringing the total number of bank branches to 56, in addition to expanding the salary localization project, enhancing financing for small and medium enterprises, and increasing the attraction of deposits from individuals, companies and official institutions, which will enhance its presence in the Iraqi banking market."
Abu Dahim concluded by emphasizing the bank’s commitment to continuing to provide an advanced banking experience that places customers and partners at the heart of its priorities, expressing his appreciation for the customers’ trust and continued support, which constitutes a major incentive to continue the path of growth and development.
we really do not like this guy ...
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he issue of foreign relations between Iraq and the world, especially the United States, which is waging a series of legal and political attacks, the latest Ali al-Zaidi “takes over Iraq” with the fifth American “below the belt” strike in days! Secretary-General Abbas al-Amiri: A meeting is expected tomorrow with alZidi to discuss the cabinet formation. 4/27/26, 10:36 PM Ali al-Zaidi “takes over Iraq” with the fifth American “below the belt” strike in days!
https://964media.com/676238/ 1/7 of which was the “reprimanding” letter that Baghdad reportedly received from Washington, following a series of rapid American moves against Baghdad or Iraqi figures and institutions, at the political or economic level. Previous experience in dealing with sanctions Dealing with challenges of this kind is not new to Al-Zaidi, whose name has been associated with the South Islamic Bank at the board level (2019 documents) or among major shareholders later on, as the South Islamic Bank had previously been subject to US sanctions (February 4, 2024). 30 days until the toughest mission Al-Zidi will have 30 days to gather his cabinet ministers, write his ministerial program, and convince half+1 of the members of parliament (329 deputies) to pass his government, after which he will begin to dismantle a huge pile of mines. Since 2003, no prime minister-designate has ever entered parliament without passing, but there have been previous prime ministers-designate who failed to form a government or decided to withdraw, such as Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi and Adnan al-Zurfi. The five American steps reviews the recent series of American moves and theIn this report, Network 964 shift in Washington’s tone in its talks with Baghdad to an unusual level, by following the text of the American message to the leaders of the framework, the American demand for the Iraqi government to strike the factions and cut off the salaries of the Popular Mobilization Forces, suspend dollar shipments, and the new sanctions against the factions, in addition to the repeated announcements of allocating rewards in exchange for providing information about Iraqi factional figures. Timeline of US actions against Iraq: 5- An unprecedented American message that shakes the coordination framework Secretary-General Abbas al-Amiri: A meeting is expected tomorrow with alZidi to discuss the cabinet formation. 4/27/26, 10:36 PM Ali al-Zaidi “takes over Iraq” with the fifth American “below the belt” strike in days!
https://964media.com/676238/ 2/7 In the first (semi-official) Iraqi confirmation, Qusay Mahbouba, a leader in the Reconstruction and Development Coalition headed by Mohammed Al-Sudani, said that the American message circulating, which contains very harsh language against Iraqi leaders, is “correct and accurate.” In a televised interview followed by (April 27, 2026), he indicated that Washington has begun to deal withNetwork 964 the leaders of the framework as adversaries, not partners, and that Iraq is no longer seen as an ally of the United States, but rather as a party that challenges its policies in the region, especially with the presence of figures hostile to the United States in the framework meetings, such as the leader of the Sayyid alShuhada Brigades, Abu Ala al-Walai. 4- Advisor to the Prime Minister: America asked us to strike the factions and cut off the salaries of the Popular Mobilization Forces ,The statements made by the head of the Reconstruction and Development bloc Bahaa al-Araji, last Thursday (April 23, 2026), reflected the unprecedented level of tension in the relationship between Baghdad and Washington, as he indicated that the United States had recently made direct demands of the Iraqi government, including cutting the salaries of the Popular Mobilization Forces and carrying out strikes against some armed factions. According to Al-Araji, these developments came amid serious repercussions that accompanied the targeting of diplomatic missions and the withdrawal of a large percentage of embassies, which put Iraq in front of simultaneous political and economic pressure, and increased the complexity of the government’s position in dealing with internal and external balances, according to Al-Araji. 3- Escalating economic pressure: Suspension of dollar shipments in the Wall Street Journal onIn the same vein, a report by journalist David Cloud Wednesday, April 22, 2026 , revealed that the Trump administration had halted dollar shipments to Iraq and frozen security cooperation programs with the military, in a move described as part of a broader pressure campaign to push Baghdad to take action against armed factions. The report stated that cash Secretary-General Abbas al-Amiri: A meeting is expected tomorrow with alZidi to discuss the cabinet formation. 4/27/26, 10:36 PM Ali al-Zaidi “takes over Iraq” with the fifth American “below the belt” strike in days!
https://964media.com/676238/ 3/7 shipments worth hundreds of millions of dollars, from Iraqi oil revenues deposited in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, were suspended due to concerns that the funds could fall into the hands of armed groups. target seven factionsUS sanctions2- This development coincided with a series of rapid US actions in less than two weeks. Last Friday (April 17, 2026), the US Treasury Department added seven leaders of Iraqi armed factions to its international sanctions list, accusing them of planning and executing attacks against US facilities and interests in Iraq. A statement from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) indicated that the targeted leaders belong to Kataib Hezbollah, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, Kataib Sayyid alShuhada, and Harakat al-Nujaba. OFAC accused these groups of working to undermine Iraqi sovereignty by using Iranian drones in recent attacks targeting northern Iraq, with near-total impunity. 1- US rewards worth $10 million target faction leaders Thirteen days earlier (April 14, 2026), the US State Department began announcing financial rewards of up to $10 million for information on leaders of armed Ahmed al-factions, and opened its program with the leader of Kataib Hezbollah, , the leader of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada (aAbu Ala al-Walai , then Hamidawi Haidermember of the Shiite framework and 5 parliamentary seats), in addition to , the Secretary-General of Ansar Allah al-Awfiya Movement and aal-Gharawi leader in the Prime Minister’s coalition (parliamentary representation). Washington justifies these measures by accusing these leaders of being involved in targeting diplomatic missions and related facilities inside Iraq and the region.
The following is the text of the American message that was widely circulated and said to have been conveyed by the US Chargé d'Affaires in Baghdad, Joshua Harris, from the State Department to the leaders of the Shiite Coordination
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Secretary-General Abbas al-Amiri: A meeting is expected tomorrow with alZidi to discuss the cabinet formation.
The fact that the criminal Abu Ala was invited to last night's meeting to decide on the next prime minister further demonstrates that the framework deeply misunderstands the United States' position and the seriousness of Iraq's isolation, not only in light of its failure to prevent hundreds of terrorist attacks, but also its increasing embrace of terrorism itself. How can any prime ministerial candidate chosen in this manner be considered legitimate?
This week we addressed the fundamental question of whether the political leaders within the framework even recognize that terrorist militias like Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, and Ansar Allah al-Awfiya are a problem—groups that have dragged Iraq into chaos and transformed it into a central threat to regional peace.
The reward we announced, as intended, made unequivocally clear where these so-called leaders stand, how tolerant they are of the Iraqi state's sponsorship and funding of terrorism, and how hypocritical their condemnations of terrorist attacks against American and Arab partners, including the attacks just yesterday against Kuwait. We will not forget this. Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States will always take the necessary steps to protect Americans and American interests.
We will deal with this individual and his group at a time and in a manner of our choosing. We will also continue to take additional action against all terrorist groups and individuals responsible for violence against our people and facilities, as well as those who enable them. The biggest question remains whether Iraq will choose to be a partner or an adversary of the United States in the next phase, given the increasing overlap between the state and terrorist militias day by day.
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