Iraqi officials gather in parliament during a session to approve cabinet appointments, with national flags displayed behind the podium. The vote filled several key government positions following months of political deadlock. Photo: Amwaj Media

NNA News - Iraq's parliament has approved three deputy prime ministers and 11 ministers, filling several key government positions that had remained vacant for about five months following the formation of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's administration.

The vote took place during parliament's 26th session on Thursday, 15 October, with 261 lawmakers present. The appointments included new ministers for the interior and defence portfolios, alongside officials responsible for planning, higher education, culture, labour, youth and sports, tourism, and digital economy. Parliament's official statement confirmed that the newly appointed officials took the constitutional oath after the vote.

Al-Zaidi welcomed the completion of much of the cabinet, saying in a separate statement: “Within five months of the government's formation, the ministerial cabinet has been completed, and all vacant ministerial portfolios have been filled.”

However, the parliamentary record shows that the vote did not resolve every outstanding appointment. The nomination for the Ministry of Migration and Displacement was deferred, while a vote on a fourth deputy prime minister was also postponed amid political disagreements.

Among the most significant appointments were Yasser al-Maliki as interior minister and Nayef al-Shammari as defence minister. Mohsen al-Mandalawi, Laith al-Khazali and Mohammed Ali Tamim were approved as deputy prime ministers.

The appointment of the deputy prime ministers also came with a proposed change to how their offices operate. Addressing parliament, al-Zaidi said his deputies “will not receive any salaries, financial allocations, or staff appointments for their respective offices”. He said their work would focus on field activities, their areas of expertise and citizens' needs, while indicating that he intended to reduce the number of government advisers.

The parliamentary vote follows months of negotiations over the distribution of government portfolios among Iraq's political blocs. Al-Zaidi was sworn in on 14 May with a partial cabinet after lawmakers approved an initial group of ministers, leaving several important positions unresolved.

The completion of most appointments is intended to allow the government to advance its programme, although political divisions remain a challenge. Iraq faces economic pressures, security concerns and questions over the role of armed groups outside full state control.

In a statement welcoming the vote, First Deputy Speaker Adnan Faihan al-Dulaimi said the agreement reflected the importance of political cooperation.

“This milestone reflects the vital role of consensus and cooperation to advance the political process,” he said.

The remaining vacancies underline that the latest vote has resolved much, but not all, of the dispute over the cabinet's final composition. Lawmakers will still need to address the deferred appointments as the government seeks to consolidate its administration and implement its priorities.