Baghdad: Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhemi – who survived the murder efforts on Sunday – was the former Spy head and skilled negotiators facing uncertain future after last month’s legislative elections.
Kadhemi, who led Iraq’s National Intelligence Service (INIS), took control in May last year after parliament gave the cabinet of the voice of confidence, limiting the week-trading weeks during the position of minister.
Born in Baghdad in 1967, he studied the law in Iraq but then went to Europe to escape from Repressive Dictator Saddam Hussein, working as opposition journalists.
After the 2003 invasion led by US surpassed Hussein, Kadhemi returned to help launch the Iraqi media network, arching crimes from the former regime in the Iraqi memory foundation and worked as a human rights advocate.
But he made an unusual career jumping in 2016, when PM Haider Al-Abadi ordered him to head Inis at the peak of the war against the Islamic Jihadist group.
It was there, the sources close to Kadhemi said that he formed a close relationship with the main players of the main nations including in Washington, London and closer to the house.
“He has a pragmatic mindset, a relationship with all key players in the Iraqi scene and a good relationship with America – and he recently can put his bond to the Iranians who return to their tracks,” said a political source and friend to AFP .
The former journalist has a very close friendship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Footage from a visit to Riyadh after his appointment, the Royal Saudi can be seen warmly embracing Kadhemi.
But the clean-shaved person, his hair trimmed with white skin around his ear, mostly most remained in the shadows.
Kadhemi first floated as a premier in 2018 but the political block instead chose Adel Abdel Mahdi – PM caregivers who resigned in December 2019 after months of protest, and who kadhemi was replaced.
The name of the Intel head began circulating a few months later as a candidate for President Barham Saleh, but a political advisor who was close to talks to AFP he hesitan to take risks.
“He did not want to agree unless it would be sure,” said the adviser, after seeing two members of Parliament Adnan Zurfi and former Minister Mohammad Allawi – failed before him.
Allawi could not unite the cabinet with a 30-day deadline while Zurfi dropped his offer under the pressure from the Shia close to Iran, who saw the parliamentarian very close to Washington.
In January 2020, the same factions had accused Kadhemi involved in the US drone strike which killed Iran General Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Muhandis in Baghdad.
But Kadhemi works through the Head of the PM inhabitant staff Mohammad Al-Hashemi to improve the bond with Iran and its allies in Iraq, advisors and diplomats based in Baghdad told AFP.
With a pro-Tehran faction on the boat, the advisory said, Kadhemi scored “a Shiite-wide consensus that was unprecedented”.
It arranged Kadhemi with a better opportunity than the two previous candidates, but he had faced challenges, from the country’s ill economy to Coronavirus.
He brought advanced elections, originally scheduled for 2022, in response to anti-government protests for endemic corruption, unemployed and public services that failed.
But the results of the election now mean it faces an uncertain future, with a coalition dispute and charges of fraud.
The figure like Kadhemi can have the right connection to direct Iraq through this crisis, the observer said.
“Kadhemi is an extraordinary negotiator and a very clever player,” said Toby Dodge, headmaster London for the center of the Middle East economy.
But, he warned: “Iraq is borrowing – the stakes have risen much higher.”
Iraq PM Mustafa Al-Kadhemi: Former spy head facing uncertain future
