Iraq’s Parliament has unanimously voted in the new government led by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shiaa al Sudani and the Framework for Coordination coalition, ending the political deadlock in which the country has been mired since the October 2021 elections.
In the presence of 253 deputies, the Iraqi Parliament has given the ‘green light’ to the new Government after postponing the session for a few hours due to political disagreements, confirming almost all the ministers — a total of 23 — in office, except those of Environment and Construction and Housing, according to the INA news agency.
Al Sudani remarked before the Parliament, before the vote, that the new political formation assumed its responsibility to face «a critical period» especially tense on the international level, with political and economic conflicts that will affect Iraq, which already suffers «accumulated crises» in different sectors.
«Our government wants to increase the capabilities and effectiveness of local governments and find sustainable solutions to outstanding problems with the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq through a true partnership based on rights and duties,» he said, according to the news portal Shafaq.
The new Prime Minister also called for a «strong Iraqi economy», while advocating investment to «strengthen and improve the foundations of cooperation with the different countries of the world».
Thus, he focused on public services and the fight against poverty and unemployment, also dedicating a few words to the return of displaced people as a «priority», as well as the work on Human Rights and the empowerment of women.
After the vote, the president of the Parliament, Mohamed al Halbusi, thanked all those involved for their efforts to form a government and pointed out that the Iraqi people «expect a lot» from both the new cabinet and the Lower House, according to NINA news agency.
For his part, Iraqi President Abdulatif Rashid, who was proclaimed winner after two ballots in Parliament and defeated his rival, former Iraqi President Barham Sali, congratulated the candidate of the Framework of Coordination coalition.
«I affirm my desire to cooperate between the Presidency of the Republic and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and to work dedicating our efforts to everything that serves our people and their aspiration for a free and dignified life that Iraq deserves and that Iraqis expect,» he said, according to the agency.
Iraq was in a political paralysis following the early legislative elections of October 2021, in which the movement in favor of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr won, only to end up withdrawing from the hemicycle in protest against the lack of political will to form a government.
Parliament was scheduled to hold the vote to elect the president in February, but was postponed due to disputes arising from the elections and the blockade by pro-Iranian parties and militias, in a scenario of political chaos and constant protests by the cleric’s supporters, who went so far as to take over Parliament.
In an attempt to defuse the crisis, the former Iraqi Prime Minister, Mostafa al-Kazemi, announced a dialogue table with the political forces and parties. But the crisis worsened after the resignation of the Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed al Halbusi, who was nevertheless confirmed in his post.
The political deadlock after the 2021 elections was also compounded by the attacks carried out by Iran against the semi-autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan. The Iraqi presidency has been held by Kurdish politicians for two decades, under a power-sharing agreement that includes that the prime minister must be a member of the Shiite community and the speaker of parliament a Sunni.
