Iraq PM sworn in with partial cabinet
Parliament approved 14 ministers as key security posts remained vacant
Iraq's newly appointed Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi was sworn in with a partial cabinet after parliament approved 14 ministers but failed to agree on several key portfolios, including interior and defense. Basim Mohammed was confirmed as oil minister and Fuad Hussein retained the foreign affairs brief, while heated exchanges in the chamber underscored deep divisions over remaining nominations. Zaidi, nominated by the Coordination Framework of Shi‘ite blocs, now has 30 days under the constitution to complete his cabinet.
A multimillionaire in his 40s with business interests spanning banking and the government food‑supply programme, Zaidi inherits major challenges: disarming militias, tackling entrenched corruption, reviving public services and balancing relations between Washington and Tehran. Lawmakers and analysts said the partial approval represents incremental progress after months of factional bargaining but warned that vacant security portfolios could impede the government's ability to act quickly on pressing threats.
The formation process reflects Iraq’s fraught power‑sharing dynamics—where the presidency is held by a Kurd, the premiership by a Shi‘ite and the parliamentary speakership by a Sunni—and the continuing influence of sectarian blocs in allocating state posts. International observers and domestic critics alike are watching whether Zaidi can translate his mandate into effective governance, address economic stresses such as unreliable electricity and employment, and complete a full cabinet capable of pursuing reforms and restoring stability.
