Shafaq News- Baghdad
Iraq's new cabinet proposed by Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi includedjust one woman among its confirmed ministers, down from three in the caretakergovernment of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
In the new cabinet, Sarwa Abulwahid remains the sole female minister,taking over the Environment portfolio. She also leads the New GenerationMovement (Al-Jeel Al-Jadeed) parliamentary bloc, a Kurdish party currently holdingsix parliamentary seats.
Under al-Sudani’s government, formed in October 2022, three women heldministerial posts: Taif Sami Mohammed as Finance Minister, Hiyam Aboudal-Yasiri as Communications Minister, and Evan Faeq Gabro as Minister ofMigration and Displacement, representing the Christian quota.
While the Iraqi constitution guarantees women 25% of seats in the329-member parliament, there is no comparable requirement for cabinetpositions, leaving female representation in government dependent on politicalbargaining and party choices.
Earlier today, Iraq’s Council of Representatives approved 14 ministerialnominees by absolute majority vote, filling key portfolios across economic,social, and diplomatic sectors. Lawmakers rejected nominees for the ministriesof Planning, Culture, Reconstruction, Higher Education, and Interior.
: Quotas without a cause: Iraqi Women counted, rights discounted
