Iraq accepts PM's resignation. A 'political tug of war' might follow.
Iraqi parliament accepted Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's resignation Sunday after weeks of deadly anti-government protests that resulted in 50 deaths Thursday evening.
The demonstrators were pleased by the resignation, but it by no means signals the end of the movement, which wants to see comprehensive reform. "We won't go back home until the PM's resignation triggers the parliament to be dissolved and early elections are held so that all political parties and militias currently in power could be removed," one protester told Al Jazeera.
That means Baghdad still has a lot of work to do, and things are up in the air at the moment.
The next step involves President Barham Salih nominating Mahdi's successor. The decision will stem from the recommendation of the largest political bloc in parliament. Until then, Mahdi's government will serve in a caretaker role.
A "political tug of war" is expected to take place en route to establishing a successor government, and parliamentary blocs will try to forge alliances with one another. But there are doubts about whether a consensus government will emerge as some semblance of Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish political parties will be required to find common political ground. Read more at Al Jazeera.
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