Kurds to get four ministerial posts in new Iraqi government, Kurdish MP reveals posts

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurds will have four ministerial posts in the new Iraqi government which were given to the leading Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), a Kurdish lawmaker in Baghdad said on Wednesday, revealing the names of the candidates.

“The KDP will receive three ministerial posts which are the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Displacement and Migration, and Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works,” Aram Ballatayi, a KDP lawmaker in Baghdad, told Kurdistan 24 at the parliament.

“Fuad Hussein is the candidate for the post of Finance Minister, Bengin Rekani for Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works, and Nawzad Hadi [current Governor of Erbil] for Ministry of Displacement and Migration.”

On Wednesday, the Iraqi Parliament convened to vote on Prime Minister-designate Adel Abdul-Mahdi’s new government cabinet. The newly-nominated ministers need the approval of 50+1 votes from 329 total lawmakers in the parliament.

Ballatayi noted that the fourth Kurdish ministerial post was undecided between the PUK and Gorran (Change), but was ultimately given to the PUK.

The PUK’s Khalid Shwani was appointed Justice Minister in the Ministry of Justice, he added.

The KDP won 25 seats in Iraq’s May 12 election followed by the PUK with 18 seats.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany