Oct. 27 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Iraqi Parliament has voted unanimously for the new government led by the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohamed Shiaa al Sudani, and the Coordination Framework coalition, ending the political blockade in which the country has been mired since the October 2021 elections.
In the presence of 253 deputies, the Iraqi Parliament has given the ‘green light’ to the new Government after postponing the session for a few hours due to political disagreements, confirming almost all the ministers – a total of 23 – in their position, except those of the Environment and Construction and Housing, according to the INA news agency.
Al Sudani stressed before Parliament, before the vote, that the new political formation assumed its responsibility to face “a critical period” that is especially tense internationally, with political and economic conflicts that will affect Iraq, which is already suffering from “accumulated crises “in different sectors.
“Our government wishes to increase the capacities and effectiveness of local governments and find sustainable solutions to the pending problems with the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq through a true partnership based on rights and duties,” he said, according to the report. Shafaq news portal.
The new prime minister has also opted for a “strong Iraqi economy”, while defending investment to “strengthen and improve the foundations of cooperation with the different countries of the world”.
Thus, he has focused on public services and the fight against poverty and unemployment, also devoting a few words to the return of displaced persons as a “priority”, as well as work on Human Rights and the empowerment of women.
After the vote, the President of Parliament, Mohamed al Halbusi, thanked all those involved for their efforts to form a government and pointed out that the Iraqi people “expect a lot” both from the new cabinet and from the Lower House, according to the agency of NINA news.
For his part, Iraqi President Abdulatif Rashid, who was proclaimed the winner after two votes in Parliament and defeated his rival, former Iraqi President Barham Salí, congratulated the candidate of the Coordination Framework coalition.
“I affirm my desire to cooperate between the Presidency of the Republic and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and to work dedicating our efforts to everything that serves our people and their aspiration to a free and dignified life that Iraq deserves and that the Iraqis they wait,” he said, according to the aforementioned agency.
Iraq was in a political paralysis following the early legislative elections in October 2021, in which the movement in favor of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr won, only to end up walking out of the chamber in protest against the lack of political will to form a government.
Parliament was scheduled to hold the vote to elect the president in February, although it was postponed due to disputes arising from the elections and the blockade by pro-Iranian parties and militias, in a scenario of political chaos and constant protests by the sympathizers of the clergyman, who even took over Parliament.
In an attempt to unravel the crisis, the former Iraqi prime minister, Mostafá al Kazemi, announced a dialogue table with the political forces and parties. But the crisis worsened after the resignation of the President of Parliament, Mohamed al Halbusi, who, despite this, was confirmed in his position.
The political blockade after the 2021 elections was also joined by the attacks carried out by Iran against the semi-autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan. The Iraqi Presidency has been occupied by Kurdish politicians for two decades, within the framework of a power-sharing agreement that includes that the prime minister must be a member of the Shia community and the president of Parliament, a Sunni.
