Iraq PM-designate ‘unlikely’ to present cabinet this week
Shafaq News- Wasit
Prime Minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi is unlikely to submit Iraq’s cabinet lineup to parliament this week despite earlier expectations of a swift confidence vote, Mohammed Al-Mayahy, head of the Wasit parliamentary bloc, told Shafaq News on Monday.
Al-Mayahy warned against rushing the government formation process, saying there was still sufficient constitutional and legal time to finalize the cabinet and cautioning that haste could produce a “distorted government.”
He explained that the next 10 days would likely determine the shape of the incoming government amid “broad political consensus” on forming the cabinet. Safwan Al-Gargari, Secretary-General of Iraq’s Parliament, had revealed that a parliamentary confidence session could be held on Monday or Tuesday once the cabinet lineup is submitted.
Al-Zaidi had not yet adequately reviewed the nominees proposed for ministerial portfolios, Al-Mayahy added, stressing that electoral entitlements and political balance would shape the final cabinet lineup.
Under Article 76 of Iraq’s constitution, Al-Zaidi has 30 days from his April 27 designation to form a government and secure parliamentary approval. Political sources earlier told Shafaq News that disputes continue over several sovereign and security ministries, particularly Oil and Defense, while Al-Zaidi was considering initially presenting around 14 ministerial portfolios for parliamentary approval as negotiations continue.
Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead
