No current ministers expected in new cabinet as blocs negotiate shares by seat count

BAGHDAD — No current ministers are expected to retain their posts in the upcoming cabinet, a lawmaker said Monday, as political blocs continue negotiations over ministerial allocations based on a points system tied to parliamentary seats.

Mohammed Hadi al-Shammari, of the Al-Khadamat Alliance, said Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi’s government will include new and younger figures who have not previously worked in politics. He outlined a point-based distribution system in which sovereign ministries are valued at 15 points, equivalent to 15 parliamentary seats, while non-sovereign ministries are valued at 10. Smaller blocs unable to reach a threshold may receive a “half or quarter minister,” requiring alliances with other blocs, after which senior positions within ministries would be divided between them. Sovereign ministries in Iraq typically include interior, defense, foreign affairs, finance and oil.

Outgoing Prime Minister adviser Abdul Amir Taiban separately said the cabinet would be composed of younger, technocratic figures, with the Coordination Framework giving Zaidi room to select ministers. Disagreements persist among framework parties over sovereign ministries, particularly oil and interior.

Based on parliamentary seats, the Badr Organization, holding 20 seats, is seeking two ministries and 20 senior posts. Sudani’s bloc, with 46 seats, is seeking around five ministries. Asaib Ahl al-Haq and the State of Law Coalition together are expected to pursue six.

Zaidi has 30 days from his nomination last week to form a cabinet, draft a government program and secure approval from an absolute majority of parliament’s 329 members.