Confidence Vote for Al-Kadhimi , the Ground for Bolstering the Links

As it was predicted, Iraq parliament on May 7 and after six months of uncertainty finally approved the Prime Minister-designate Prime Minister Mostafa Al-Khadhimi and his picks for cabinet members. This big success, which was achieved through prudence of Iraqi political parties and after hurdles and unpleasant challenges, is auspicious for Iraqi people and some neighboring countries too, but not for few countries.

IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

Saudis are angry at this approval, Turkey is in agony due to restoration of the stability and peace in Kurdistan and Iran and Syria are happy with this achievement. Before voting in the parliament, Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi had emphasized that Al-Kadhimi would face problems for getting vote of confidence but he ultimately would get vote of confidence. In a press conference, Al-Halbousi had elaborated that Al-Kadhimi would have a government with 20 ministers but there were some differences over the fates of two ministers. As it had been predicted, during voting the session predictions came true. Security and economy are two major challenges ahead of al-Kadhimi and his cabinet. 206 to 260 Iraqi parliament lawmakers participated in voting process and they cast their votes of confidence. Hence, Iraq has started a new stride towards stability and peace.

Lawmakers voted for Khalid Battal al-Najm as planning minister. They also voted for Hassan Mohammed Abbas Salman as health minister, for Nazineen Mohammad Wassaw as construction and housing minister, for Majid Mahdi Hantoush as electricity minister, for Adil Hashush Jabir Jassim as labor and social affairs minister, for Arkam Shihab Ahmed Kadhim as telecommunications minister, for Adnan Dirjal as youth and sport minister, for Manhal Aziz Mahmoud as industry and minerals minister, for Ali Hameed Mukhlif as education minister, for Nasir Hussein Bander Hamad as transport minister,  for General Othman Ali Farhood Musheer Al Ghanimi as interior minister and for Ali Allawi as finance minister.

In the past, finance ministry was in control of Iraqi Kurds but this time they were content to take the control of the foreign ministry. Representative of Basra in the parliament tried to impose their nominees for ministries of oil and transport even they resorted to some threats.

Iraqi parties like Hekmat led by Seyed Ammar Hakim, Al-Fath Coalition led by Hadi al-Amiri, Strong Iraq led by Parliament Speaker al-Halbousi, Coalition of Kurd Parties led by Barham Salih were the major supporters of Al-Kadhimi’s designation but Sadrist Movement as well as Sadiqoun Bloc were opposing the Al-Kadhimi government. The opposition of some political parties led to some changes in the cabinet during the voting as lawmakers cast vote of confidence for Adil Hashush Jabir Jassim as labor and social affairs minister, for Khalid Shwani as justice minister and for Haribi Abdollah as agriculture minister to replace Al-Kadhimi’s picks.

So what happened in Iraq was official declaration for formation of a new government after recommendation of grand cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani to former Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi to resign following full-scale unrests and clashes in the country six months ago which were like a full civil war, instigated by the U.S.

Hours after esteemed grand cleric of Iraqi Shiites’ Friday prayer sermon in Karbala, Abdul-Mahdi in a statement announced his readiness to submit his resignation to the parliament. At that time, this question was raised what scenarios would be in front of the Iraqi government. During this time, Iraq was busy with passing its time with the U.S. military threat and with security shocks, while some candidates for the premiership job, who were not considered as national choices, wasted much time, but fortunately Iraq parliament finally had an ending well, and today we have a government in our neighborhood that we can talk with them for advancement of regional goals like political and economic co-operations and even a military one, and we should thank God for it.