Prime minister Nouri al-Maliki overcame last-minute bickering within his fragile coalition today to submit a list of his new cabinet. The leader has almost certainly cleared the final hurdle to forming a government more than nine months after national elections. Parliament was likely to approve the list of 42 ministers and other top government posts. Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi said the vote could take place as early as tomorrow. Joined by al-Maliki at a news conference, al-Nujaifi said the prime minister had met his constitutional deadline to designate Iraq's new leadership.
Although 13 of the posts were filled with acting ministers until a final agreement could be reached, al-Nujaifi's endorsement suggested it would not pose a problem. Al-Nujaifi is a member of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya alliance that won the most seats in the 7 March election and, until this month, bitterly fought against al-Maliki keeping his job.
"I am very happy today," al-Maliki said. "What has happened today is new evidence that we, as Iraqis, cannot continue our differences forever."
Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said al-Maliki will serve as the acting minister for the nation's top three security posts to give lawmakers more time to ensure they are filled with politically independent officials.
According to al-Dabbagh, of the 42 names submitted, 10 others were filled with acting ministers, in a move that allowed al-Maliki to submit his government today as promised. Al-Dabbagh said those positions would be filled with permanent nominees by Saturday.
The prime minister said discussions were still ongoing about the 10 ministries, and the short delay would ensure all parties were fairly represented in the government. Many of the vacant posts are jobs that the hardline anti-American Sadrists are demanding.
Al-Maliki added: "The formation of national unity government in Iraq is a difficult and hard task because we need to find place in the government for all those who participated and won in the elections.".
