Iraq PM Pushes Back against New Cabinet Deadline

Local Editor

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi called Tuesday for parliament to support or reject his calls for a technocratic government, pushing back against a looming deadline for a new cabinet line-up.

"It is not wise to present a ministerial line-up that faces rejection by parliament," al-Abadi said in televised remarks, calling on lawmakers to clarify their position.

Parliament must decide if it wants him "to present ministers from the political blocs or to present technocratic ministers from outside the blocs," he further noted.

Al-Abadi has repeatedly called for the current cabinet of party-affiliated ministers to be replaced with technocrats, but has faced resistance from powerful blocs and their ministers who rely on ministries for patronage and financial gain.

Meanwhile, Iraqi lawmakers voted to give the embattled premier until Thursday to present a new cabinet line-up, with the speaker's office terming it "the final deadline."

With his Tuesday remarks, the premier apparently aimed to put the onus back on parliament, leaving it up to lawmakers to act so the process can move forward.

In parallel, al-Abadi is under pressure from Sayyed Moqtada as-Sadr, who has orchestrated an 11-day sit-in at entrances to Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, where the government is headquartered.

As-Sadr further warned his supporters would storm the Green Zone if al-Abadi failed to present a line-up of technocrats.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team