Maliki and Barzani discuss vacant cabinet posts and ‘correcting’ political process

BAGHDAD — State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki and Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met Sunday in Baghdad to discuss efforts to “correct the course of the political process” and fill the ministerial vacancies left by this month’s partial confidence vote, according to a statement from Maliki’s office.

The meeting covered relations between Baghdad and Erbil and ways to strengthen cooperation, with both sides stressing the importance of maintaining coordination between the Islamic Dawa Party and the Kurdistan Democratic Party “on the basis of the constitution and national partnership.” They called for dialogue to resolve outstanding issues “in a way that preserves national balance and strengthens mutual trust.”

Parliament approved 14 ministers earlier this month but rejected nominees for planning, culture, construction and housing, higher education and interior. Voting on defense, labor, migration and youth and sports ministries was postponed. The incomplete cabinet has become a focus of renewed political negotiations.

Barzani arrived in Baghdad on Saturday for talks on unresolved disputes between Erbil and the federal government, meeting Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi, Supreme Judicial Council head Faiq Zaidan and other senior officials. Key outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil, including the federal budget, oil exports and the region’s authorities, are typically revisited during government formation negotiations.