Sunni bloc submits ministerial nominees to Zaidi, rejects ‘outside interference’

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s National Political Council announced Sunday it had submitted the names of its ministerial candidates to Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi, while rejecting what it described as outside interference in its cabinet entitlements.

The announcement followed a meeting in Baghdad hosted by Khamis al-Khanjar and attended by Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi and leaders of the council’s member parties. Participants discussed political developments related to government formation and reviewed “the clauses of the political agreement in detail, and mechanisms for implementing them in line with constitutional entitlements and national balances.”

The council expressed “categorical rejection of any interference by political figures and parties from outside the [Sunni] component in its ministerial entitlements,” stressing its right to manage its internal affairs according to frameworks agreed among its own political forces.

The National Political Council, also known as the Sunni Framework, was formed after the November 2025 elections by major Sunni parties including Taqaddum, Azm Alliance, Sovereignty Alliance, National Hasm Alliance and Jamaheer Party. Earlier this week it said understandings on cabinet formation had been completed and that its members were prepared to attend a confidence session once scheduled.

Zaidi was nominated by the Coordination Framework on April 27 following months of political deadlock. Negotiations over ministerial allocations continue among Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish blocs.