Kurdish parties finalize ministerial picks as Iraq set for cabinet confidence vote

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region’s main political parties have selected their nominees for ministerial posts in the incoming Iraqi government, well-informed sources have told Rudaw, with the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and the main opposition New Generation Movement (NGM) set to back the cabinet of Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi in parliament on Thursday.

A source familiar with the matter in Erbil told Rudaw that “the KDP has nominated incumbent Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein for a second term.” Meanwhile, Rebaz Hamlan, a Kurdish politician and financial advisor to Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, has been selected as the KDP’s pick for minister of housing and reconstruction, the same source added.

Another source from the KDP bloc in Baghdad told Rudaw that the party expects to be allocated a deputy prime minister post, though “the position will not be voted on in Thursday’s parliamentary session.”

The Iraqi legislature on Wednesday announced that it will hold a key session the next day, with one item on the agenda: “Voting on the ministerial program and the government of Prime Minister-designate Ali Falih al-Zaidi.”

Lawmakers from the KDP, PUK, and NGM previously confirmed to Rudaw their participation in the session to vote on confidence for the country’s incoming cabinet.

Harem Kamal Agha, head of the PUK bloc in the Iraqi parliament, said on Wednesday that an agreement had been reached for the PUK to be allocated the justice ministry, with incumbent minister Khaled Shwani being discussed for another term.

Meanwhile, Kurdawan Jama, head of the NGM bloc in the federal parliament, also said that the party - considered the largest opposition group in the Kurdistan Region - would be allocated the environment ministry.

“We will participate in the session and vote for the cabinet, as we have an agreement with the PUK to receive the environment ministry, and our candidate for that position is Srwa Abdulwahid,” said a prominent NGM politician and sister of party leader Shaswar Abdulwahid.

Importantly, Rudaw has learned that the Iraqi legislature is expected to vote on the government program and cabinet lineup, with 19 of the 23 ministries set to be voted on, while agreement over four portfolios remains pending and will be postponed to a later session.

The Iraqi ruling Shiite Coordination Framework - the largest bloc in parliament, holding 174 seats in the 329-member legislature - in late April named Zaidi as its candidate for prime minister, a post traditionally held by a Shiite.

However, the Thursday vote of confidence comes amid reported disputes over ministerial portfolios within the Coordination Framework, specifically over the sovereign ministries, namely defense, finance, interior, and oil.

Moreover, the key session comes as Kurdish opposition parties - the National Stance Movement (Halwest), the Islamic Union of Kurdistan (IUK), and the Kurdistan Justice Group (KJG) - remain undecided over attendance, saying talks are ongoing over a joint ministerial post and a memorandum submitted to Zaidi concerning demands related to the Kurdistan Region.

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