Kurdish MPs in Baghdad call for sufficient representation of Kurds in new government

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – As the final government formation in Iraq nears, several Kurdish MPs in Baghdad have called for a sufficient representation of Kurds in the country’s new cabinet.

During their meeting on Saturday, parliament members in Baghdad were expected to vote on the remaining ministerial posts in the new Iraqi government. However, no consensus was reached, and the MPs will convene on Monday to decide on the eight ministers in Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi’s cabinet.

Bakhtiyar Shawez, a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) MP in Baghdad, said Abdul-Mahdi has 48 hours to complete his cabinet.

In late October, the Iraqi Parliament gave its vote of confidence to 14 ministers, but candidates to lead eight other ministries, including the coveted posts of Interior and Defense, were not included in the ballot. MPs were due to elect the remainder, but this has so far been delayed.

“Today, we met in the parliament but were unable to decide on the remaining positions,” Shawez told Kurdistan 24. “The session will convene on Monday or Tuesday, and if there is no vote on the vacant positions, then the PM will decide on the posts himself.”

Miran Mohammed, another PUK MP in Iraq, called on ministers in Baghdad to consider the Kurds in the new government formation, adding the Kurds are expected to receive two more ministerial posts.   

“If the Kurds are not represented in Baghdad, then the new government will not be successful,” he stated.

“The people who have suffered the most injustice in Iraq [such as the Kurds] should not be ignored.”

Nahro Rwandiz, a Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK) MP in Baghdad, told Kurdistan 24 he hopes the Kurdish issues are addressed in the new Iraqi Parliament.

“The political factions from Kurdistan want to be well-represented in Iraq,” he said.

“We want to be able to gain more positions to improve Kurdish rights and to address the Kurdish issues in the parliament.”