Iraqi Parliament approves new government after nine-month deadlock

[News_Editor]

Iraqi Parliament approves new government after nine-month deadlock

2010-12-22 06:14:18 GMT+7 (ICT)

BAGHDAD, IRAQ (BNO NEWS) -- The Iraqi Parliament on Tuesday approved Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his new government after inconclusive elections led to a nine-month deadlock.

The Parliament vote to approve Maliki, three deputy prime ministers, 29 other cabinet ministers and a 43-point government program aimed at liberalizing the economy and combating terrorism. The vote came one day after Maliki presented his proposed national unity cabinet.

The mid-year inconclusive elections left Iraq at the verge of a political collapse and delayed investments to rebuild the country, which has been severely damaged after years of war. During the following nine months, political factions struggled to achieve government consolidation.

"I do not say that this government, with all its formations, satisfies its citizens' aspiration, nor the political blocs', nor my ambition, nor any other person's ambition, because it is formed in extraordinary circumstances," Malaki told lawmakers, according to local media reports.

The list presented to the Parliament includes approximately 70 percent of the cabinet. Malaki has still to decide on permanent choices for some positions, such as defense and exterior ministers. Deputy oil minister Abdul Kareem Luaibi was promoted to minister and prominent Sunni leader Rafie al-Esawi was named the country's finance minister.

"The new cabinet does not represent the ambition of the prime minister; it reflects the ambition of multiple entities," said Malaki's adviser Ali Moussawi, as cited by local television. "The result of the election went in a way that you cannot form a majority, except for a majority of a certain sect so we must form a government of national partnership."

Maliki's State of Law coalition party won 89 seats in the elections, just behind former Iraqi Premier Iyad Allawi's al-Iraqiya bloc, which secured 91 seats. Allawi failed to gain enough support for a parliamentary majority and said that his Sunni-backed coalition will actively participate in the government.

"We as the Iraqiya bloc declare our full support for this government," Allawi said. "Iraqiya will play an active, productive and cooperative role."

Prime Minister Malaki assured after the vote that the constitution will be preserved and that the current election system should be reviewed.

The international community welcomed the approval of the new government, which U.S. President Barack Obama called a 'significant moment' in Iraqi history and a 'major step forward' in advancing national unity.

"Yet again, the Iraqi people and their elected representatives have demonstrated their commitment to working through a democratic process to resolve their differences and shape Iraq’s future," Obama said. "Their decision to form an inclusive partnership government is a clear rejection of the efforts by extremists to spur sectarian division.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also welcomed the approval, and pledged to work with Iraqi leaders to build a strong, long-lasting relationship between the two nations. "This government is a testament to the desire of Iraqis to settle their differences through free debate and an open exchange of ideas," Clinton said.

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