Four deputies for al-Zaydi: Government reform or a deal to appease political forces?
Four deputies for al-Zaydi: Government reform or a deal to appease political forces?
8-9-2026
The political arena is embroiled in heated debate and intense behind-the – scenes maneuvering following news and indications of a move to appoint four deputy prime ministers. This step has presented the public, parliamentarians, and oversight bodies with a crucial and fundamental question: Does this broad measure represent a practical and well-considered step to repair the crumbling executive performance and manage complex issues? Or is it merely a new political appeasement maneuver designed behind closed doors to recycle the abhorrent cycle of partisan quotas?
These moves come amidst escalating warnings from both politicians and economists, who highlight the danger of this approach due to its enormous financial implications. It will burden the general budget with honorary positions and advisors, in addition to genuine concerns about overlapping powers and overlapping field responsibilities with ministers. This threatens to transform the government’s decision-making body into a new arena for political conflict and power struggles, instead of serving as a decisive tool to rescue the deteriorating financial, service, and economic situation.
In this context, economist Dirgham Muhammad Ali considered the creation of new government positions a futile and pointless exercise in light of the ongoing economic crisis. He called for preventing political forces from interfering in economic affairs, which he said hinders reform efforts.
Speaking to Al-Maalomah News Agency, Ali stated that the creation of four deputy prime minister positions is a redundant step intended to appease political blocs and forces. This, he argued, clearly demonstrates that the influence of political forces remains stronger than the will of the state. He added that the economic situation cannot improve under these political circumstances and the unjustified interference that now controls everything.
He further stated that the Iraqi government’s reform measures clash with the interests of blocs that obstruct and prevent any improvement in the economic system. He believes that establishing a state based on institutions is essential to overcoming all economic crises by focusing on the private sector.
He explained that the current Iraqi economy relies on employment and oil sales, and therefore, diversification is necessary.
Meanwhile, Jassim Muhammad Jaafar, a leader in the State of Law Coalition, revealed on Sunday that there is a near-agreement among political forces… The State Administration Coalition considered a proposal to appoint four deputy prime ministers, but simultaneously ruled out passing the idea due to the financial and administrative burden it would impose.
Jaafar told the Al-Maalomah news agency that “the State Administration Coalition’s recent meeting saw the proposal to appoint four deputy prime ministers, with two positions allocated to the Shia component and one each to the Sunni and Kurdish components.” He explained that “the proposal received near-agreement, provided that the names of candidates for the vacant ministerial positions are submitted and voted on as a single package.”
He added that “the coalition reached a preliminary agreement to appoint Laith al-Khazali as deputy prime minister for reconstruction affairs, Mohsen al-Mandalawi as deputy for economic and development affairs, and Mohammed Tamim as the Sunni representative, while no agreement has yet been reached on the Kurdish candidate for the fourth position.”
Jaafar pointed out that “these newly created positions are nothing but a redundant layer that will cost the state enormous sums of money going towards salaries, allowances, security details, and administrative privileges without any real return,” stressing that “the economic situation cannot improve under the current political interference and power-sharing arrangements that now control everything.”
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