The arrests reshuffle the cards… Will they postpone the formation of the government cabinet or redraw its equations?
The arrests reshuffle the cards… Will they postpone the formation of the government cabinet or redraw its equations?
7-4-2026
The political arena is witnessing a highly sensitive phase as negotiations continue to finalize Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi’s cabinet. The recent wave of arrests targeting several members of parliament and officials on corruption charges has cast a shadow over the understandings between political forces and the mechanisms for filling vacant ministerial posts, particularly those related to security and sovereign ministries. These developments coincided with ongoing disagreements within the Coordination Framework regarding the distribution of positions and the selection of candidates. This has raised questions about the political forces’ ability to overcome the repercussions of the legal proceedings and proceed with completing the government within the announced timeframe.
Observers believe that the ongoing legal proceedings have led to a reordering of priorities among political blocs, especially since candidates for executive positions are now subject to increased political and legal scrutiny, out of concern that names potentially under suspicion or liable to future accountability might be put forward.
In this context, Badr Bloc MP Mukhtar al-Moussawi confirmed that the arrests related to corruption cases will have a direct impact on negotiations to complete the cabinet. He noted that political blocs will be more cautious in dealing with the names nominated for the vacant ministerial posts.
Al-Moussawi told the Al-Maalomah news agency that “the individuals nominated for ministerial positions will be subject to serious scrutiny by the political forces that hold electoral legitimacy,” explaining that the blocs will not risk nominating figures who might be controversial or face legal issues.
Despite this, al-Moussawi ruled out the possibility that the arrests would disrupt the formation of the government, emphasizing that the political forces have declared their full support for the judicial procedures and will proceed with their negotiations regardless of the impact of these cases.
Meanwhile, the Coordination Framework forces appear determined to finalize the cabinet formation in the near future. The Victory Alliance suggested that an extraordinary session of Parliament would be held in mid-July to vote on the new ministers, despite continued disagreements over some of the nominees.
Aqeel al-Rudaini, spokesperson for the Victory Coalition, told Al-Maalomah that the leaders of the Coordination Framework will discuss finalizing the nominations for the vacant ministerial posts during their upcoming meeting. He indicated that the current disagreements do not amount to a political deadlock and that reaching a final agreement is still possible.
He added that all the forces within the Coordination Framework share a common will to complete the cabinet formation, predicting that the coming days will witness a political breakthrough leading to the approval of the remaining ministers in Parliament.
Political observers believe that the success of the political forces in separating the judicial process from political agreements will be the decisive factor in determining when the government will be completed, especially since corruption cases have become one of the most prominent criteria for evaluating candidates for senior positions, amidst escalating public demands for enhanced integrity and accountability for those involved.
Between the pressures of combating corruption and the complexities of political compromises, the cabinet formation process remains a true test, one that may be resolved in the coming weeks. Either agreements will be finalized and the ministers approved, or the political scene will enter a new phase of postponement and realignment of alliances.
almaalomah.me
