Iraq Swears In New Cabinet After Parliamentary Confidence Vote

The Council of Representatives of Iraq voted on Thursday to grant confidence to the government of Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi, officially approving the country’s new cabinet during a parliamentary session in Baghdad.

According to the Iraqi News Agency, Prime Minister Al-Zaidi and the ministers approved by parliament took the constitutional oath shortly after the vote, formally assuming their official responsibilities.

The confidence vote approved 14 ministers across key portfolios, including oil, finance, foreign affairs, electricity, health, transport, justice, industry, communications, agriculture, education, trade, environment, and water resources.

Among the confirmed ministers were Ali Basim Mohammed Khudair as oil minister, Mohammed Nouri Ahmed as industry minister, Ali Saad Wahib as electricity minister, Abdul Hussein Aziz as health minister, Sarwa Abdul Wahid as environment minister, and Abdul Rahim Jassim as agriculture minister.

Parliament also approved Muthanna Ali Mahdi as minister of water resources, Mustafa Nizar Juma as trade minister, Khalid Shwani as justice minister, Abdul Karim Abtan as education minister, Wahab Salman Mohammed as transport minister, Faleh Al-Sari as finance minister, Fuad Hussein as foreign minister, and Mustafa Jabbar Sand as communications minister.