Iraq holds four-way presidential talks as nine cabinet seats remain unfilled

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Nearly a month after Iraq's parliament granted confidence to Prime Minister Ali Fallah al-Zaidi and 14 of his ministers, nine cabinet portfolios remain vacant as political blocs continue negotiations over ministerial appointments. The unresolved file points to a continuing deadlock in the government formation process. To break the impasse, four presidential meetings were hosted in Baghdad by President Nizar Amidi, bringing together al-Zaidi, Parliament Speaker Hibet al-Halbousi and Head of the Supreme Judicial Council Judge Faiq Zidan. Participants stressed that the cabinet lineup must be finalized quickly to allow the government program to move forward. Political analyst Mohammed Hassan al-Saadi described the delay as a natural extension of the political bargaining logic that has shaped Iraqi government formation since 2005, placing the core dispute within the Coordination Framework over the distribution of portfolios among political blocs and parties. Analyst Wael al-Rikabi said the crisis is political in nature, tied to new balances that emerged after the presidential election, with some parties casting themselves as election losers while others blame the government's transitional management style. The vacant ministries file is expected to remain open to political negotiation and contention until a final agreement is reached.