Iraqi parliament returns to session with cabinet vacancies unresolved

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's parliament reconvened for a new legislative session facing pressure to press Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani's government to name the remaining ministers in his cabinet. More than 85 days have passed since the government received a vote of confidence from lawmakers, according to Iraqi political observers. Under constitutional timelines and existing law, parliament is tasked with formally requesting that the prime minister fill the vacant ministerial posts. Lawmakers say the legislature's effectiveness should be measured not only by the number of laws passed, but also by oversight of the government's program, interrogation of ministers, functioning of parliamentary committees and anti-corruption efforts. While political bloc-sharing continues to shape parliamentary decisions, members of parliament are expected to prioritize national interest over party loyalty during the current term. Proposed steps to strengthen legislative oversight include setting deadlines for filling the empty portfolios and requiring the government to submit regular performance reports. Analysts warned that without effective oversight, adherence to the constitution and the law will remain nominal and fail to translate into improvements in citizens' daily lives. No further details on a timeline for filling the vacant positions were immediately available.