Cabinet formation: Advanced negotiations underway to finalize remaining names before al-Zidi’s visit to Washington
The Iraqi political scene is witnessing rapid activity to resolve one of the most prominent outstanding issues in the government formation process: completing Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi’s cabinet. This comes amid growing indications that political forces are nearing final agreements on the remaining ministerial posts.
These moves coincide with efforts within the Coordination Framework to review certain government arrangements, including the potential elimination of deputy prime minister positions and a reduction in what is described as administrative bloat, as well as a reconsideration of several candidates nominated for the remaining portfolios. Statements from political leaders confirm advanced agreements that could pave the way for an extraordinary parliamentary session in the coming period to definitively resolve the issue, thus ensuring the completion of the government formation before the anticipated political and diplomatic events.
Nine ministries are awaiting resolution. In this context, Hussein al-Saabri, a member of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, stated that a parliamentary session will be held in the coming days to finalize the cabinet after the legislative recess.
Al-Saabri explained in a statement to Al-Maalomah that “understandings regarding the completion of the remaining nine ministerial posts have reached an advanced stage among the political forces.”
He added that “the Speaker of Parliament will call for a session after the legislative recess ends, should the final agreements between the political parties be reached.”
He indicated that “there is significant progress in the ongoing discussions among the political forces to resolve the issue of the vacant ministries in the coming phase.”
He pointed out that the Coordination Framework forces are striving to complete the remaining ministerial portfolios before Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi’s anticipated visit to Washington, as part of efforts to fully resolve the government formation process.
Regarding the abolition of deputy prime minister positions, Salam al-Zubaidi, a leader in the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, revealed that the Coordination Framework forces agreed during their recent meeting to abolish the deputy prime minister positions, in addition to setting a date for an emergency parliamentary session to complete the cabinet.
Al-Zubaidi told Al-Maalomah that “the forces within the Coordination Framework unanimously agreed to hold an extraordinary emergency session to complete Al-Zidi’s cabinet, to be held after the conclusion of the Ashura commemorations.”
He added that “the Prime Minister will officially inform the Speaker of Parliament to set the date for the session.”
He explained that “the political forces within the Framework agreed to abolish the positions of Deputy Prime Ministers entirely, considering them redundant and a form of governmental bloat, in addition to the fact that they would embroil the political forces in new problems and disputes they can ill afford.”
He indicated that “the Framework Agreement also included amending the nominees for the Planning, Interior, and Higher Education portfolios, replacing them with alternative figures to finalize the matter.”
Political indicators suggest that the forces participating in the government are seeking to complete the cabinet formation process entirely in the coming period, by reaching an agreement on the nominees for the vacant ministries and resolving outstanding issues in preparation for presenting them to Parliament for a vote.
Almaalomah.me