PM presents new cabinet lineup to parliament

March 31, 2016 12:37 PM

"He presented a list with the names and CVs of candidates for the ministries, chosen by a special committee of experts on the basis of professionalism, competence, integrity and leadership", said a statement on Abadi's website.

Iraqi PM presents new cabinet lineup to parliament

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Thursday he had presented a new cabinet lineup to parliament as part of a drive to form a technocrat government aimed at battling endemic corruption.

Recommended articles

It was not immediately clear how many ministers the reshuffle would affect. Nor was it clear whether the new candidates were affiliated with powerful political parties, which fear a reshuffle could weaken patronage networks that have sustained their wealth and influence for more than a decade.

Parliament, which must vote on any changes and was expected to reconvene later on Thursday, appears divided on the reshuffle. Some lawmakers are demanding changes to all ministries and others are resigned to a partial adjustment.

Failing to deliver on long-promised anti-corruption measures could weaken Abadi's government just as Iraqi forces are gearing up to try and recapture the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State militants.

Powerful Shi'ite Muslim leader Moqtada al-Sadr, who started a sit-in near parliament on Sunday and leads a bloc with three ministers in the current government, is pushing Abadi to appoint nominees unaffiliated with political parties.