The Iraqi Accountability and Justice Commission announced Thursday that two ministers approved by Iraq’s parliament may be sacked before the rest of cabinet is agreed after finding out they were members of Saddam Hussein’s regime.
The Commission is responsible for the policy of “de-Baathification,” or ensuring no Saddam-era officials or senior members of his Baath party play a role in Iraq’s government.
The Commission sent a letter to the parliament over two nominees to the 22-minister government in order to complete its formation, which further complicated the situation.
"Two names will be subject to procedures by the Accountability and Justice Commission," said Commission spokesman Fares Abdel-Sattar, without specifying who.
He said in a press statement on Thursday that the body has "sent a letter to the Council of Representatives, including a detailed explanation of the status of each of the 22 names.”
A parliamentary source told AFP the officials were Minister of Youth and Sports Ahmad al-Obeidi and Minister of Communications Naim al-Rubaye, who were only approved by lawmakers last month.
Both received parliament's vote of confidence on October 25 along with 12 other ministers.
Rubaye was reportedly a member of the intelligence services and a mid-level Baath party official, a security source told AFP, but it was unclear what role Obeidi had.
According to the parliamentary official, these two ministers could be sacked and replaced by a vote of confidence in the future.
The name of the de-Baathification Commission, which was established during the era of US civil administrator for Iraq Paul Bremer and following the ouster of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, has been changed to "Accountability and Justice".
Almost six months after the legislative elections, the Iraqi government is still not complete.
Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, has only offered part of his cabinet to parliament because some of his candidates have been opposed by the Council of Representatives, especially those nominated to head the internal and defense portfolios.
The Commission’s announcement comes in response to a request submitted by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Halbousi in October 25 to ensure detailed and accurate information about government candidates.
