“Al-Maliki has not backed down”… His coalition sends the names of its candidates for the Interior and Defense ministries
“Al-Maliki has not backed down”… His coalition sends the names of its candidates for the Interior and Defense ministries
2026-08-23
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The media office director of Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition, denied on Thursday the existence of any understandings or agreements regarding relinquishing the Ministry of Interior, stressing that the issue is “not even on the table.”
Hisham al-Rikabi said in a statement via the website (X) that what some media outlets have reported regarding understandings or agreements related to al-Maliki giving up the Ministry of Interior is “untrue,” stressing that what is being circulated in this regard “is not based on any correct information.”
For his part, MP Othman Al-Shaibani, from the State of Law Coalition, said in a brief statement to Shafaq News Agency that the coalition had sent the names of its candidates for the portfolios of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Higher Education to Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi, in preparation for deciding on the selection of the two ministers in the coming days.
A source told Shafaq News Agency that Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ali al-Zaidi is still committed to managing the Ministries of Defense and Interior “on an acting basis,” given his satisfaction with the performance of the current leadership, denying the existence of any political agreement or intention to decide on the names of the two ministers at the present time.
On May 14, 2026, the Iraqi parliament granted confidence to the government of Ali Faleh al-Zaidi and its ministerial program, and voted on 14 ministers out of 23, while nine portfolios remained postponed due to disagreements over names and quotas, including the Interior, Defense, Higher Education and Planning ministries.
shafaq.com
