Hakim, Amiri discuss cabinet completion and political developments

BAGHDAD — The Hikma Movement leader Ammar Al-Hakim met with Badr Organization Secretary-General Hadi Al-Amiri on Saturday to discuss Iraq’s political situation and efforts to complete the cabinet.

According to a statement from Al-Hakim’s media office, Al-Hakim stressed the need to move forward with filling the remaining cabinet positions. He also called for making use of what he described as the “positive atmosphere” among political blocs to reach understandings that “enhance and preserve stability.”

He also emphasized the unity of the Coordination Framework and called for the passage of laws “that address citizens’ needs under the current economic conditions” and help complete the structure of Iraq’s state institutions and constitutional bodies.

Zaidi was approved as prime minister on May 14 after months of disputes within the Coordination Framework. Nine of the government’s 23 ministries remain unapproved after political parties failed to reach consensus during the confidence session. He took the constitutional oath on May 16.

Abu Turab al-Tamimi, a Badr Organization bloc lawmaker delivered a pointed rebuke to State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki last week, saying he “deserved” the failure of his ministerial nominees in the cabinet confidence vote because “he does not know his people.”

The State of Law Coalition continued to contest parliament’s rejection of its ministerial nominees, with coalition spokesperson Aqeel al-Fatlawi blaming partners within the Coordination Framework for agreeing before the session not to support their candidates. Their nominees for interior and higher education ministries did not pass.