Political disputes again prevented the Iraqi parliament from appointing defense, interior and justice ministers in Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s cabinet.
Meeting in Baghdad, lawmakers did manage to fill two other vacant positions with Shaima Khalil appointed education minister and Nawfal Moussa as migration minister.
Intensifying disagreements between the rival Islah and Bina blocs, led by populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Hadi al-Ameri, have prevented the formation of a full government of 22 ministers, said Reuters.
Abdul Mahdi was confirmed as premier in October after months of political gridlock that followed an inconclusive May election. He was sworn in with only a partial cabinet and has since been trying to get a full government up and running.
The post of interior minister has emerged as the biggest stumbling block over which parliament’s two biggest coalitions are arguing.
Ameri’s bloc has repeatedly nominated Falih Fayadh, who once led the Popular Mobilization Forces. Sadr’s coalition has consistently rejected him.
Lawmakers allied with Sadr walked out of Monday’s session when Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi put forth Fayadh’s name for a vote, as they have done several times in the last few months, thus breaking quorum and ending the session. Halbousi said he would ask Abdul Mahdi to put forward a different name next time, reported Reuters.
“We walked out of the session because we strongly reject holding a vote on Falih Fayadh as interior minister. We will never show leniency and our position is firm. No vote for partisan candidates,” said lawmaker Jamal Fakhir.
The deadlock over forming a cabinet has raised the prospect of further unrest as the country struggles to rebuild and recover after three years of war with ISIS.
The prime minister faces the daunting task of rebuilding much of the country after that war, solving acute economic problems and coping with power and water shortages.
