Iraq PM to send vacant minister candidates to parliament next week

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani is expected to submit the resumes of candidates for vacant cabinet positions to parliament next week, with a vote on completing the government possibly taking place the following week, a senior political figure said. Ali al-Daffai, spokesperson for the State of Law Coalition, said on Saturday that the cabinet has remained incomplete for roughly 100 days, describing the delay as a point of weakness. He attributed the holdup to disagreements among some political groups over the candidates and to differences between Kurdish and Sunni components within the Coordination Framework. Al-Daffai said Sudani raised the urgency of resolving the matter at the Framework's latest meeting, stressing that disputes must be settled and the names sent to parliament in the coming week. He added that there is a tendency to set aside the issue of deputy prime minister positions given the delay in completing the cabinet and the ongoing financial crisis. Al-Daffai said filling the vacant ministries remains the priority. No further details on the candidates or the parliamentary session were immediately available.