KDP Names Candidates for Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister and Construction Minister Posts
The Kurdistan Democratic Party nominates Faris Sheikh Sadiq Brifkani for deputy prime minister and Rebaz Hamlan for minister of construction and housing ahead of a parliamentary vote on completing Ali al-Zaidi’s cabinet
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has named its candidates for Iraq’s deputy prime minister and minister of construction and housing positions ahead of a parliamentary session scheduled for Thursday evening to vote on completing Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s cabinet.
Danar Abdulghafar, spokesperson for the KDP parliamentary bloc, announced the nominations in a statement on Thursday, saying the party had formally selected its candidates for the positions allocated to it in the new government.
Faris Sheikh Sadiq Brifkani has been nominated for the post of deputy prime minister, while Rebaz Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed, known as Rebaz Hamlan, has been selected for the position of minister of construction and housing, according to the statement.
Iraq’s parliament is scheduled to convene at 7 p.m. local time on Thursday to vote on completing al-Zaidi’s cabinet and filling ministerial positions that remain vacant. The session will be held behind closed doors, with media outlets barred from attending, according to the announcement.
The session’s agenda includes voting on candidates for deputy prime minister positions, nominations for the remaining vacant ministerial portfolios, and the establishment of several new ministries.
The parliamentary vote is intended to advance the formation of the new cabinet by filling outstanding senior government positions and completing its ministerial structure.
The prolonged delay reflects persistent disagreements among Iraq’s political blocs over the distribution of ministerial portfolios and the selection of candidates, particularly for sensitive positions such as the interior, defense, and planning.
Parliament approved Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s government and 14 ministers on May 14, 2026, leaving nine ministries unresolved.
The cabinet had remained incomplete for about five months, with negotiations complicated by competing political interests, disputes over nominees, and disagreements within the governing coalition.
The continued vacancies have raised concerns about the government’s ability to fully implement its program and ensure effective management of key security, economic, and public-service portfolios.