Iraqi PM seeks parliament approval for new cabinet

Prime Minister of Iraq on Thursday proposed a Cabinet makeover amid mounting pressure for political reform in the country, including weekly demonstrations by supporters of a radical Shiite cleric who have staged a sit-in outside government headquarters in Baghdad.

PM Haider al-Abadi said he reduced the number of Cabinet ministers to 16, from the previous 21-member government. He submitted the names of nominees for 14 ministerial positions, but would not replace the current defense and interior ministers because of the tense security situation in Iraq. The incumbents will retain those strategic posts, he said, “given the current hard situation ... and will be replaced later”. Al-Abadi said all 16 new names were selected by a special committee and not by the political parties.

It is still unclear if lawmakers will endorse the new cabinet since several parliamentarians from Iraq’s political spectrum have threatened to pull out of scheduled session if their demands are not met.