Azm Alliance says it has reached deal with Zaidi to join next government

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Azm Alliance announced Saturday it had reached understandings with Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi to participate in the next government, saying the agreement was intended to support political stability and complete the constitutional process.

The Muthanna al-Samarrai-led alliance said it had conducted “extensive consultations and intensive political dialogues” in recent days, resulting in an agreement on Azm’s participation in the upcoming cabinet. It said it had submitted nominees to Zaidi to manage government institutions in the next phase.

An Azm member, Haider al-Asadi, said earlier this week that the alliance’s expected share would include the ministries of planning and education along with a deputy prime minister position, while Taqaddum — the other main Sunni bloc — would receive one ministry under the point allocation mechanism adopted by the government formation committee. He also said the Coordination Framework had informed Taqaddum leader Mohammed al-Halbousi that 25 points would be deducted from his electoral entitlement in exchange for the parliament speakership held by his party member Haibat al-Halbousi.

Zaidi submitted his government program to Parliament Speaker Halbousi on Thursday. He faces a constitutional deadline at the end of May to present his cabinet to parliament for a confidence vote.