Shafaq News- Baghdad
Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi will discusswith Kurdish and Sunni leaders their demands in the new government, a politicalsource told Shafaq News on Friday.
Al-Zaidi is expected to visit the Kurdistan Region in thecoming days, where he will also address issues between Baghdad and Erbil,including the salaries and the Region’s share from the budget in line with thenew government’s program.
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He will then meet Sunni leaders, including Taqaddum Movementleader Mohammed Al-Halbousi, to review their positions, as the latter hasraised his party’s expectations for cabinet posts, “fueling debate amongpolitical blocs as negotiations over Sunni ministries enter a more directphase.”
According to the source, disputes over power-sharing quotaswill be resolved based on each bloc’s parliamentary representation, underprevailing political norms, with key parties expected to play a role inensuring the government’s approval in parliament.
The source added that the Shiite Coordination Framework, thelargest bloc in parliament, has formed a committee to oversee the distributionof ministerial portfolios and review nominees in coordination with Al-Zaidi,“aiming to prevent disputes from delaying the formation of the government.”
Talks are ongoing over the initial distribution of cabinetposts. The Reconstruction and Development Coalition (Al-Ima'ar wal Tanmiya) isseeking five ministries, including a sovereign portfolio, while the State ofLaw Coalition is likely to secure the Oil Ministry and another serviceportfolio. The Sadiqoon Movement is also set to obtain two ministries and adeputy prime minister post.
Earlier, the Coordination Framework granted Al-Zaidi broaderauthority in selecting his cabinet following his nomination for prime ministerafter the withdrawal of caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani andformer Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki.
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