Iraq’s national de-Baathification commission on Thursday said it was still vetting candidates for each of the defense and information ministries, Faisal Al Jarba and Naim Al Rabiei, fraying attempts for forming a government under new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.
Other than the probe, Mahdi’s government has failed to gain parliamentary confidence vote after lawmakers failed to convene for the second week in a row.
The Supreme National Commission of Accountability and Justice is tasked with upholding the policy undertaken by subsequent Iraqi governments to remove the Ba'ath Party's influence in any new Iraqi political system.
AL Jarba, according to the commission’s findings, had an eventful record serving in the Ba’ath Party whereby he was awarded a medal for serving up to 25 years, in addition for involvement in the suppression of popular uprisings.
Al Rabiei, according to the probing panel, was found to have admitted allegiance to and membership in the former ruling party, which dissolved in 2003, on two separate occasions in writing.
The Arab Baath Socialist Party seized power in Iraq in 1968 but was later banned by virtue of Article 7 of the Iraqi Constitution.
Apart from the de-Baathification probe, political infighting is preventing the government from working towards rebuilding infrastructure wrecked by years of violence including a war against ISIS and reforming state institutions that critics say are paralyzed by corruption.
Lawmakers approved a partial cabinet for Prime Minister-designate Abdul Mahdi last month after an election in May, leaving him with 14 ministers from a total 22 cabinet positions.
The crucial interior and defense ministries are among those still unfilled as rival blocs in parliament sharply disagree on proposed candidates.
A bloc led by populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr says ministers should not be people who are affiliated to political parties. Iran-backed rivals are insisting on their own candidate for the interior post, which is the key sticking point.
