Zaidi meets Abadi as cabinet consultations continue across political blocs

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi met Sunday with former prime minister and Al-Nasr Coalition head Haider al-Abadi to discuss government formation, with both sides calling for unified efforts among political forces and the swift formation of a capable cabinet.

The meeting addressed “the latest developments in the country and the process of forming the new government,” according to a statement from Zaidi’s media office.

Zaidi was nominated last week by the Coordination Framework following the withdrawal of both Maliki and incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Political blocs are holding ongoing meetings to agree on ministerial allocations within the 30-day constitutional deadline. A proposed distribution outlined earlier this week would see Education go to the Shiite component, Higher Education to the Sunnis and Foreign Affairs remain with the KDP, with Oil going to the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, Finance to Asaib Ahl al-Haq and four deputy prime ministers split two to Shiite, one to Sunni and one to Kurdish components.