Iraq’s new Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi has been successfully sworn in by parliament on Wednesday, and they went on to approve the manority of his cabinet in a four-hour session, capping the May election.
A Supreme Islamic Council figure, Abdul-Mahdi ran as an independent candidate in May, but emerged as a compromise candidate for many parties, owing to his long history in previous cabinets.
While Abdul-Mahdi was trying to get more or less a unified parliament, Osama Nujaifi’s Decision Alliance has withheld support from the new government, and from its assorted candidaes for cabinet ministries.
14 ministers have already been approved, of 22 under consideration. Some MPs say they need more time, with accusations that others may hold fake degrees. Neither the Interior or Defense Ministries have a candidate, in keeping with influential cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s call to keep those posts in his hands.
Iran scored a victory in Iraq with this new government. Key government positions still need to be filled in the new government, but the die has been cast. The new leaders are supported by Iran. It’s been obvious for a long time that Operation Iraqi Freedom gave Iraq the freedom to ally with Iran, and now it’s even more obvious with Iran-allied leadership in Baghdad and Iranian militias in the Iraq military. The US will either have to accept and try to retain some influence in Iraq, or pull out.