The Los Angeles Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini on Nouri al-Maliki’s reaction to the nomination of a new politician to succeed him as Iraqi prime minister:
“If Maliki decides to challenge Abadi while retaining loyalty of his forces, then the situation could spiral in a very uncertain and dangerous direction,” Ramzy Mardini, an analyst with the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank, said via email. “At the end of the day, Maliki needs to concede power if a new government is to be formed.”