Iraq: New PM, Two-Thirds of Proposed Ministers Sworn In

Local Editor

New Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi and almost two-thirds of his ministerial picks were sworn in on Wednesday.

Lawmakers, however, failed to reach a consensus on the rest of the cabinet, postponing the votes to November 6.

Out of the 22-member cabinet proposed by Abdul-Mahdi, 14 picks won a vote of confidence, but the parliament did not make any decision about the rest, including the ministers of interior and defense.

While the Iraqi Constitution gives the new prime minister until November 2 to form his government, the Iraqi parliament is to reconvene on November 6 to vote on the remaining members of the cabinet, Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi said.

PM Abdul-Mahdi faces the daunting task of rebuilding much of the country after a devastating war against Daesh, as well as solving acute economic problems and power and water shortages.

The premier on Wednesday detailed his agenda for the next four years in a 122-page document, which lists plans for developing the war-torn country, settling differences with the Kurdistan Regional Government, boosting the economy and reducing poverty.

In terms of security, he said all arms must be in the hands of the state, rejecting “semi-states” within the country. He also vowed his government would resolve electricity problems by the summer of 2019.

Millions of Iraqis voted on May 12 in their first parliamentary election since the defeat of Daesh [the Arabic acronym for terrorist 'ISIS/ISIL' group], but a contentious recount process delayed the announcement of final results until August.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team