Tuesday, December 28th 2010
Iraq's other stage of govt formation: naming security ministers
Baghdad, The Iraqi government was approved by the parliament nine month after elections, now comes forth a new competition - who will get the security related ministries.
The National Coalition (NC) led by Prime Minister and its arch rival Sunni-backed al-Iraqiya list seem to be sharing the ministries while the Kurds want to get involved in the game to win one ministry.
The three ministries of the Defense, Interior, and National Security remain empty so far, more than a week after the formation of the new Iraqi government. The ministries are run temporarily by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, being also the commander in chief of the armed forces.
"The two ministries of the interior and national security have been settled for the NC, while the defense ministry for the al-Iraqiya" said Ibrahim al-Rikabi, a member of the PM Maliki's National Coalition bloc (NC).
He says there is a political agreement between the blocs that the three posts are resolved for NC an al-Iraqiya.
"Going back on political agreements will cause confusion to the political process" he said.
Al-Rikabi says the Kurds have got their share in the government, but Mohsen Sadoun of the Kurdish Blocs coalition (KBC) seems to think otherwise.
Sadoun says naming candidates for the three posts is subject to political consensus before being approved by the parliament. This may suggest that the Kurds want to get involved in the contest for one of the portfolios.
The Kurds request one out of the three security ministries as a "national and electoral benefit"
Currently, the Kurds are holding the presidency of Iraq, in addition to the first deputy prime minister, and five ministries in Maliki's government, most notably the Foreign Affairs.
http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/206153/
