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How did Nouri al-Maliki become prime minister of Iraq in 2006?

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Iraq War: U.S. soldiers — Iraq War U.S. soldiers in Sāmarrāʾ, Iraq.

Nouri al-Maliki became prime minister of Iraq in 2006 following a four-month political stalemate that occurred after the December 2005 general elections.12

In those elections, the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), a Shi'i bloc, won a plurality of seats and initially selected Ibrahim al-Jaafari to serve as the first full-term prime minister. However, Jaafari’s candidacy faced strong opposition from Arab Sunnis and Kurds, who viewed him as a divisive figure.1

To resolve the resulting ministerial crisis, the UIA nominated Maliki in April 2006. He was subsequently nominated by President Jalal Talabani to lead a new government of national unity, which included members from Arab Sunni, Kurdish, and secular blocs. Maliki’s government was officially sworn in on May 20, 2006.12