A year after parliamentary elections: Iraq again warns US embassy in South Africa of possible terrorist attack

More than a year after Iraq’s parliamentary elections, the bitter power struggle-ravaged country has returned to government. In a session on Thursday evening, parliament voted by a large majority for the cabinet of new Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. About 20 ministerial posts were filled, the state agency INA reported. The two offices for environment and housing are still under consideration. About 250 MPs from the 329-seat parliament attended the session.

A power struggle has been raging in the oil-rich country since the parliamentary elections a year ago. Two weeks ago, Kurdish politician Abdul Latif Raschid was finally elected as the new president in a vote that was months late. He then ordered the Shia al-Sudani to form a new government.

Iraq is suffering from “accumulated crises” with the most serious consequences, including for the economy, Al-Sudani said in a speech to parliament. “We sincerely promise our wonderful people to do everything in their power to succeed.” All political forces would be involved, whether they were directly involved in the government or not. The aim is, among other things, a strong economy with many new jobs and the fight against poverty and unemployment.

Since the overthrow of longtime ruler Saddam Hussein by the US invasion in 2003, central offices in Iraq have been divided according to proportional representation, in which all major political groups participate. The president is always a Kurd, the prime minister a Shia and the speaker of parliament a Sunni.

In recent months, the political crisis in Iraq has worsened, partly under the impulse of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. His movement had won the most seats in parliament in the elections. However, al-Sadr failed to find enough partners to form a government to his liking. He ordered the withdrawal from parliament and increased pressure on the streets, leading to deadly clashes with rival Shia militias. (sda/dpa)