Iraq lawmakers confirm new government, key posts left empty
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s parliament voted to confirm Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi’s new government on Thursday while leaving key Cabinet posts unfilled.
The legislature voted in an unruly session to confirm 14 of Abdul-Mahdi’s 22 Cabinet nominees, enough to ratify a government.
But lawmakers failed to vote on key appointments, including ministers of defence, justice and interior, underscoring the discord plaguing Iraqi politics.
Lawmakers from the Islah bloc — the largest in Parliament — complained that they were not given enough time to review the nominees, named only hours before the vote. Lawmakers were handed one page resumes to review for each.