Iraqi MPs approve partial cabinet as thousands protest

BAGHDAD – Agence France-Presse

Iraqi lawmakers approved five of the prime minister’s candidates for a new cabinet on April 27 after weeks of delays and chaos at parliament, as thousands of people demonstrated for reforms.

But some MPs, who were barred from attending after chanting for the parliament speaker’s removal and disrupting an earlier session, said they would mount a legal challenge.

Iraq has been hit by weeks of political turmoil surrounding Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s efforts to replace the cabinet of party-affiliated ministers with a government of technocrats.

The crisis comes as Iraqi forces battle to regain more ground from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and both the United Nations and Washington have warned that it could undermine the fight against the jihadists.

Iraq has also been hit hard by the plummeting price of oil, revenues from which account for the vast majority of government funds.

The proposed cabinet changes have been opposed by powerful political parties that rely on control of ministries for patronage and funds, and parliament has repeatedly failed to vote on a new cabinet list.

Lawmakers approved Abadi’s candidates for the ministries of electricity, health, higher education, labor and water resources, MP Sarwa Abdulwahid and two parliamentary officials told AFP.

But they rejected some of Abadi’s nominees, and the premier will present additional candidates on April 30, the sources said.

Earlier in the day, some MPs prevented Abadi from speaking at parliament and threw water bottles in his direction, lawmakers and a parliamentary official who was present at the session said.

Some lawmakers also chanted against parliament speaker Salim al-Juburi, terming him “illegitimate” and saying: “Salim! Out, out!” 

The protesting lawmakers were then barred from attending the second session at which the partial cabinet was approved, vowing to file a court case over the issue.

As the latest political turmoil played out in parliament, thousands of protesters demonstrated for reforms nearby, answering a call from powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to do so. 

The demonstrators, many carrying Iraqi flags, marched from Tahrir Square in central Baghdad to an entrance to the heavily fortified Green Zone where the government is headquartered, chanting that politicians “are all thieves.”