Iraqi lawmaker moves to end acting appointments in senior state posts

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi parliament member Ibtisam al-Hilali said she will submit a formal request to the parliament's speaker to end the practice of acting management in senior state positions, as part of a political initiative inside the legislature. Al-Hilali, a member of the Rule of Law Coalition, said dozens of senior government posts are currently held in an acting capacity, including specially ranked officials, deputy ministers, directors general and equivalents, as well as heads of independent commissions. She noted that those officials were selected by the government and appointed outside the parliamentary process. The lawmaker said some officials began serving in acting roles years ago and continue in the same status. She said she expects the parliament, in its next legislative term, to use its oversight and legislative functions to issue formal decisions and directives to the government and to set a time limit on acting appointments. Al-Hilali also stressed that candidates with professional competence should be chosen for the positions in question. No further details on the timeline of the request were immediately available.