Mid-2017, Basra witnessed large protests against the former governor, Majid Al-Nasrawi, following accusations of corruption, wasting public money and lack of services. The result was the former governor fleeing to Iran and then to Australia, which left the governor's office vacant. That led the Basra Council to hold an emergency meeting to choose a new governor for Basra, the result of which was that the politician and businessman Asaad Al-Eidani obtained the majority of the votes and was sworn in as governor of Basra before the judicial authority. He has been holding the office since August 2017.