Shafaq News-Baghdad
Iraq'sCouncil of Representatives announced Monday that a confidence vote on the newfederal government will be held next week, with prime minister-designate Alial-Zaidi expected to submit his cabinet lineup and governing program by the endof this week.
Speaker Haibetal-Halbousi, presiding over a session on Monday attended by 217 out of 329lawmakers, said the parliamentary committees on strategic planning and thegovernmental program would review the submission before it is put to a vote.
Muhammadal-Shammari, a lawmaker from the Parliamentary Services bloc (Khadamat), toldShafaq News that the incoming cabinet is expected to comprise 22 ministerialportfolios, distributed as follows: 12 for Shiite Coordination Frameworkfactions, 6 for Sunni blocs, and 4 for Kurdish parties.
A politicalsource who spoke to Shafaq News earlier this week said the Ministry of HigherEducation would go to the Taqaddum party —led by Mohammad al-Halbousi andholding 27 seats— while the Ministry of Defense would be allocated to the al-AzmAlliance, led by Muthanna al-Samarrai, which holds 15 seats.
Al-Zaidi wasnominated last week by the Framework following the withdrawal of both caretakerPrime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani and State of Law leader Nouri al-Malikifrom contention.