The coordination framework reveals the truth about the move towards creating two new ministries within Al-Zidi’s government.
The coordination framework revealed today, Thursday, the truth about the trend towards creating two new ministries within the ministerial cabinet of Al-Zidi’s government in the next few days.
MP Mukhtar al-Moussawi told Shafaq News Agency that “the news circulating about the decision to create two new ministries within the cabinet of Prime Minister Ali al-Zidi, namely the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Governance, is still within the framework of ongoing discussions and studies, and there is no final decision on this matter, either from the Coordination Framework or from the Prime Minister himself.”
He explained that “the issue of creating new ministries or positions in Iraqi state institutions is currently under in-depth discussion between political forces and relevant government agencies, and no final formula or binding decision has yet been reached regarding the establishment of a Ministry of Tourism or a Ministry of Governance.”
He added that “any step related to the creation of a new ministry must be based on clear professional and practical foundations, and must stem from an actual need of the state and the requirements for developing government performance, and not according to considerations of political appeasement or personal and partisan interests.”
Al-Moussawi stressed that “the goal of any amendment to the government structure should be to raise the efficiency of institutions and improve the services provided to citizens.”
He added that “dialogues are still ongoing between the various political blocs on one hand, and the Prime Minister and his competent government team on the other, in order to study the administrative, financial and legal feasibility of any possible new development, and the matter has not yet been decided.”
He predicted that “the picture will become clearer by the middle of next week after the completion of the rounds of discussion and consultation.”
The representative of the Coordination Framework concluded by saying that “the framework is dealing with this file from the standpoint of the public interest and the requirements of administrative reform, and that any final decision will be officially announced after the deliberations are completed and a common vision is reached that ensures the service of state institutions and enhances the effectiveness of government work.”
It is worth noting that Al-Zaidi’s government spent more than a month of its life with an incomplete cabinet, as the Iraqi parliament had voted, on May 14, to grant confidence to Ali Al-Zaidi’s government and its ministerial program with 14 ministers, while the vote on the remaining 9 ministries was postponed until after the Eid al-Adha holiday due to the continuation of political disputes over the distribution of portfolios, amid reports of international warnings against the inclusion of armed factions in the new ministerial formation.
The Eid al-Adha holiday has passed and the cabinet has not been completed, despite the assurances of many blocs and MPs on the need to complete the cabinet formation in order for the government to function.
The Coordination Framework had authorized Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi to make contacts with the heads of the political blocs and entities participating in the government, whose candidates for the vacant ministries have not yet been decided, as confirmed by MP Amer al-Fayez, a leader in the Coordination Framework, to Shafaq News Agency on June 13.
Al-Fayez said at the time that “Al-Zidi is trying to reach an agreement with the blocs first on choosing the appropriate minister nominated by the bloc, and after being convinced of the candidates, he will present their names to the coordination framework to obtain approval for them.”
He stressed that the House of Representatives is currently on legislative leave and needs an extraordinary session called for by Speaker Hebat al-Halbousi in order to complete the vote on the cabinet. If this does not happen, the session will be held after the end of the legislative leave in early July.
Shafaq.com