Iraq’s new Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi was sworn in on Wednesday but could not announce the full cabinet after legislators failed to reach a consensus on key postings, including interior and defence.<\/p>\n
Abdul Mahdi was initially expected to nominate a full 22-member cabinet, including the defence and interior ministers.<\/p>\n
But legislators from Moqtada al-Sadr’s bloc Sairoon, Abadi’s Nasr Alliance, Vice President Iyad Allawi’s Wataniya, and Sunni Muslim blocs left the room before voting due to disagreements.<\/p>\n
“We decided to withdraw from the session, because we are not satisfied with the rest of the cabinet candidates,” said Nasr legislator Ali Sined. “It’s enough to approve 14 ministers.”<\/p>\n
Under Iraq’s constitution, Shia, Sunnis, Kurds and other minorities must all be represented.<\/p>\n
Parliament will reconvene on November 6 to vote on the remaining eight ministers, Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi said.<\/p>\n
The unruly parliamentary session underscored the difficulties faced by Abdul Mahdi, 76, as he seeks to build consensus over his cabinet.<\/p>\n
Daunting task<\/strong><\/p>\n The new prime minister faces the daunting task of rebuilding much of the country after a devastating war against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), as well as solving acute economic problems and power and water shortages.<\/p>\n Among the 14 ministers who were sworn in, Thamer Ghadhban became Oil Minister and veteran Kurdish politician Fuad Hussein Finance Minister.<\/p>\n Ghadhban replaced Jabar al-Luaibi, who was recently made head of the new National Oil Company. He helped resuscitate a flagging oil industry after the US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, however, some legislators accused proposed ministers of being former Saddam stalwarts, or corrupt.<\/p>\n Under a de facto power-sharing agreement, Iraq’s presidency is now traditionally held by a Kurd, the prime ministership by a Shia and the parliament speaker is a Sunni.<\/p>\n