Khaled Battal replaces Al-Halbousi as Vice President of the Republic
Khaled Battal replaces Al-Halbousi as Vice President of the Republic
2026-10-20
Shafaq News – Anbar
A source in the Anbar Provincial Council reported on Monday that former Minister of Industry Khalid Battal is a candidate to assume the position of Vice President of the Republic, instead of the head of the “Progress” Alliance, Mohammed al-Halbousi.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that the position will go to Battal instead of Halbousi, based on political understandings that were recently put forward.
For his part, political expert Abdullah Al-Dhaban told Shafaq News Agency that assuming the position gives its holder a political and symbolic status, and keeps him close to the center of decision-making.
Al-Dhiban added that deciding on the position without broader consensus could exacerbate competition within the Sunni community, warning that creating or activating positions under economic pressures could widen the trust gap in institutions if it is not accompanied by a clear public function and a tangible impact on performance and accountability.
It is worth noting that an informed source revealed to Shafaq News Agency yesterday, Sunday, that the political forces are moving towards reactivating the positions of the two vice presidents of the republic, within the understandings of the State Administration Coalition for the next period.
According to the source, these positions will be treated in terms of financial entitlements in the same way as the positions of deputy prime ministers, so that they are limited to nominal salaries, without office allocations or the creation of new job grades.
Last Thursday, the House of Representatives voted on three deputy prime ministers, including Ali al-Zidi, and 11 ministries, some of which were vacant and some newly created, with the exception of the Ministry of Migration and Displacement.
shafaq.com
