The National Coalition, led by Iraqi Vice President Ayad Allawi, rejected on Thursday calls by some Sunni political figures to offer the Ministry of Defense portfolio to a Shiite military commander.
The Coalition said Thursday such demands were mere media speculation and unrealistic, renewing its attachment to the candidacy of Faysal al-Jarba for the post.
Kazem al-Shammari, head of the Sunni Wataniya parliamentary bloc, which includes 21 deputies, told Asharq Al-Awsat, “Our alliance is cohesive despite all rumors coming from here and there… We don't heed those rumors and are still attached to our principles and convictions.”
Three days ago, several Sunni blocs in Iraq said they accept to back the nomination of a Shiite military leader for the defense portfolio, breaching the country’s sectarian quota system.
The Ministry of Defense has traditionally been held by Sunnis.
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi sent letters to several leaders from the Counter-Terrorism Service to nominate one of them for the post of Defense Minister.
However, Sunni parties believe the move would break down the power-sharing system that allows leaders of different ethnic backgrounds to take various roles in the government, including some key ministries.
Shammari described calls to back the nomination of a Shiite military leader for the Defense Ministry post as “mere media speculation."
The dispute over the defense and interior ministry portfolios have prevented Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi from completing his cabinet.
