Shafaq News- Baghdad
A preliminary distribution of ministerial portfolios in Iraq’s nextgovernment indicates that the Reconstruction and Development (Al Ima’ar walTanmiya) Coalition, led by caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, isexpected to secure the largest share in Prime Minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi’scabinet, a political source revealed to Shafaq News on Wednesday.
The allocation is being shaped by parliamentary weight and seatcounts following the recent elections, alongside proposals submitted duringgovernment formation talks.
According to the initial map, Al-Sudani’s coalition —winner of 46parliamentary seats— is set to receive five ministries, including the sovereignFinance Ministry, in addition to a deputy prime minister post.
Coordination Framework Allocations
Within the Coordination Framework (CF) —a Shiite-led coalition thatholds 162 of parliament’s 329 seats— other key allocations are taking shape.
The State of Law Coalition (SLC), headed by former Prime Minister Nourial-Maliki, which secured 29 seats, is expected to obtain the Oil Ministry andanother service portfolio. The Badr Organization, led by Hadi al-Amiri, whichholds 18 seats, is likely to take the Interior Ministry.
The Planning Ministry is projected to go to the National Wisdom (Al-Hikma)Movement, led by Ammar al-Hakim, part of the State Forces Alliance that alsosecured 18 seats. The Electricity Ministry may be assigned to the Virtue (Fadilah)Party. The Education Ministry is expected to fall to the Services (Khadamat) Alliance,led by Shibl al-Zaidi, which holds 5 seats, rising to 9 when the Wasit al-AjmalAlliance, aligned with it, is included.
The Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq, led by Humam Hamoudi, whichran in the elections through the Abshir Ya Iraq Alliance and secured 4 seats, isset to receive the Youth and Sports Ministry. Meanwhile, the Sadiqoun Movement,led by Qais al-Khazali, which won 27 seats, is expected to obtain the Labor andSocial Affairs, and Industry and Minerals ministries, in addition to a deputyprime minister position.
Sunni Bloc Allocations
Among Sunni blocs, the Progress (Taqaddum) Party, headed by former ParliamentSpeaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, which won 27 seats, is expected to secure theHigher Education Ministry, while the Al-Azm Alliance, led by Muthannaal-Samarrai, which holds 15 seats, is likely to take the Defense Ministry.
Kurdish Party Allocations
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which won 26 seats, isexpected to obtain the Foreign Affairs and Justice ministries, while the PatrioticUnion of Kurdistan (PUK), which secured 15 seats, may receive the Ministry ofHealth and Environment and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities.
Formation Process
Cabinet positions in Iraq are typically distributed throughpolitical agreements under the muhasasa system, a post-2003 power-sharingarrangement among the country’s major political and ethnic blocs.
Within the Coordination Framework, discussions are ongoing tofinalize the distribution using a “points system,” assigning ministries valuestypically ranging between 10 and 16 points based on political, financial, andservice weight.
Earlier today, CF member Abu Methaq al-Masari told our agency thatAl-Zaidi has formed two teams —one to draft the government program and anotherto select the ministerial cabinet— while political leaders are set to meet himlater on Wednesday to finalize the cabinet structure and allocations.
On April 27, Iraqi President Nizar Amedi tasked Al-Zaidi, theFramework’s candidate, with forming a government within 30 days and securingparliamentary confidence under Article 76 of the constitution.
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