The Iraqi Administrative Court annulled on Monday a decision by former prime minister Haidar al-Abadi to relieve Faleh al-Fayadh of his duties from three security posts in the government.
The ruling came less than a week after a decision by PM Adel Abdul Mahdi and his cabinet to cancel orders made by Abadi’s government between July 1 and October 24.
At the time, Abadi condemned the move, describing it as “a measure that is incompatible with the concepts of an institutional state that the country needs to abide by.”
He attributed the move to Fayadh’s involvement in “political and partisan work.”
Fayadh had appealed the decision before the administrative court.
Monday’s order means that he will be reappointed as head of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and national security agency.
The Reform and Reconstruction bloc, which includes Abadi, expressed its surprise at the court ruling.
A statement issued following a meeting of the Coalition, presided over by Ammar al-Hakim, head of the National Wisdom Movement, said it was surprising to annul decisions taken by the Iraqi government during the three months when it was acting as a caretaker cabinet.
“Most of the cabinet’s choices were right and legal and several served the public interest,” the statement said.
Separately, an Iraqi deputy ruled out the possibility that parliament would finalize Tuesday a vote on the remaining eight ministers Abdul Mahdi’s government.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat on conditions of anonymity that meetings were ongoing between political leaders to reach a solution for the cabinet crisis.
The source said Abdul Mahdi was now waiting for parliamentary blocs to present the list of their final candidates to fill the remaining posts.
