Iraq’s parliament recently completed most of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s cabinet. It represents Iraq’s version of power sharing not where parties are to be equals and balance each other out but rather where each winning party gets positions based upon the number of seats in parliament they win.
On October 16 parliament filled out more positions for PM Zaidi’s government. Originally there were 9 vacant ministries but lawmakers ended up voting on 11 cabinet members and 3 deputy prime ministers. Decisions on two other candidates was postponed.
Besides the additional offices another surprise was that several pro-Iran groups obtained positions. Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s Laith al-Khazali became deputy prime minister, Mohammed al-Mousai will be Labor Minister and Safaa al-Kinani will be Youth Minister. Ali al-Dakhili of Sayid al-Shuhada became Tourism Minister and Mohammed Sahib al-Darraji of the Imam Ali Brigades became Digital Affairs Minister one of the new positions created.
This was unexpected because shortly after the Zaidi government was formed the United States told the ruling Coordination Framework it was opposed to any member of the pro-Iran Resistance from becoming part of the new administration. Those included Asaib Ahl Al-Haq, Saydi al-Shuhada and the Imam Ali Brigades. Premier Zaidi reportedly got America’s permission to include them.
At first the Trump White House as pushing a hardline with Baghdad. Not only did it not want any Resistance members in the cabinet, it wanted the factions disarmed and Iraq to cut financial ties with Iran. This was part of the revived Maximum Pressure campaign which was begun under the first administration. With the Iran War having gone sour however, Washington is not as interested in Baghdad anymore. Hence it is not opposed to these pro-Iran groups becoming part of the government.
The additional government spots points to the structural and political problems that plague Iraq. The pattern since the first post-Saddam elections in 2005 is for each winning party to receive deputy PM and ministerial positions based upon the number of seats they won. This has nothing to do with power sharing or competency but for patronage and theft. Ministries for instance require deputies, director generals and a host of other positions which are dished out as well to the victors. They are then expected to pay for their spots by stealing from the state for their party.
This comes at a time when the government is facing a financial crisis due to the Iran War curtailing oil exports which funds most of the administration. Baghdad is unable to pay its current workforce but has no problem by creating 4 new deputy prime ministers and 3 new ministries. The elite always believe that the international oil market will return to the norm and that they do not have to carry out any reforms or even austerity measures.
Zaidi came into office saying that he would be a different type of prime minister. That’s because he was not a politician with a party behind him but rather a businessman. That has proven a weakness as he doesn’t have the support to make real changes and things have progressed largely like his predecessors. Pro-Iran groups still hold large sway over the state and patronage and corruption have continued as usual.
New Members of Zaidi’s Government
Muhsin al-Mandalawi – Coordination Framework - Deputy PM
Mohammed Tamim – Taqadum Alliance – Deputy PM
Latih al-Khazali – Sadiqoon/Asaib Ahl Al-Haq – Deputy PM
Naif al-Shammari – National Resolution Coalition – Defense Minister
Yasser al-Maliki – State of Law – Interior Minister
Haidar Bahaa – State of Law – Higher Education Minister
Rebaz Hamlan – Kurdistan Democratic Party – Housing Minister
Mohammed al-Mousai – Sadiqoon/Asaib Ahl Al-Haq – Labor Minister
Safaa al-Kinani – Sadiqoon/Asaib Ahl Al-Haq – Youth Minister
Ali al-Dakhili – Muntasiroon Alliance/Sayid al-Shuhada – Tourism Minister
Mohammed Sahib al-Darraji – Khadamat Alliance/Imam Ali Brigades – Digital
Economy Minister
Qutaiba Ghazi – Azm Alliance – Planning Minister
Yassin al-Issawi – Azm Alliance – Culture Minister
Mohammed Samaan Aga – Turkmen Front – Minister of State for Minority
Affairs
SOURCES
Agence France Presse, “US greenlights Iraqi cabinet with blacklisted factions: diplomatic sources,” 10/16/26
Al Alam, “”Weaning” Factions off Ministries: Did Washington Turn a Blind Eye or Set the Rules of the Game?” 10/14/26
Asharq Al-Awsat, “Washington Signals Gradual, Sweeping Sanctions on Iraq,” 3/9/25
Iraqi News, “Iraq’s parliament approves new cabinet ministers,” 10/16/26
Kurdistan 24, “Iraqi Political Leaders Welcome Cabinet Completion After Parliament Vote,” 10/16/26
Mahmoud, Sinan, “Four deputies, one son-in-law: Iraqi PMs cabinet deal exposes price of consensus,” The National, 10/7/26
Rudaw, “Iraqi parliament approves new ministers, deputy prime ministers,” 10/16/26
Taqi, Ghassan, “U.S. Message to Baghdad: No Militias in Government,” Al Hurra, 5/14/26
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