Iraq Elects Nizar Amidi President

Iraq's parliament has elected Nizar Amidi, a political official from the Iraq — Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, as the new president. This election comes five months after a parliamentary election that failed to produce a decisive majority and more than two months past the constitutional deadline. The political development unfolds as Iraq is caught in the middle of a conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran, which has led to Iran-backed militias attacking United States bases and critical energy infrastructure in Iraq. The conflict and Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz have severely impacted Iraq's oil exports, a crucial component of its economy. The new president will now have 15 days to task the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc, the Shiite Coordination Framework, with forming a government and assuming the position of prime minister. The bloc has nominated former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a decision that faces opposition from the United States.