Mmor than a year after the parliamentary elections in Iraq, the country plagued by bitter power struggles has a government again. Parliament voted by a large majority in favor of the new Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s cabinet. Around 20 ministerial posts were filled, as reported by the state agency INA. The two offices for the environment and housing are still pending. Around 250 MPs from the 329-seat parliament attended the session.
A power struggle has been raging in the oil-rich country since the parliamentary elections a year ago. Two weeks ago, Kurdish politician Abdul Latif Rashid was finally elected the new president in a vote that was months overdue. He then commissioned the Shia al-Sudani to form a new government.
Iraq is suffering from “accumulated crises” with the most serious consequences, including in the economy, said Al-Sudani in a speech to parliament. “We sincerely pledge to our great people to make every effort to achieve success.” All political forces would be involved, whether they were directly involved in the government or not. The aim is, among other things, a strong economy with many new jobs and a fight against poverty and unemployment.
Offices are distributed according to proportional representation
Since the overthrow of long-term ruler Saddam Hussein by the US invasion in 2003, the central offices in Iraq have been divided according to proportional representation, in which all important political groups participate. The president is always a Kurd, the prime minister a Shia and the speaker of the parliament a Sunni.
In recent months, the political crisis in Iraq has continued to worsen, driven in part by the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. His movement had won the most seats in parliament in the election. However, al-Sadr failed to find enough partners to form a government of his liking. He ordered the withdrawal from Parliament and increased street pressure, prompting deadly clashes with rival Shia militias.
