The cabinet is suspended and the government program is pending… Bloc disputes are hindering a government without ministers.
The cabinet is suspended and the government program is pending… Bloc disputes are hindering a government without ministers.
8-13-2026
The crisis surrounding the completion of the cabinet and the appointment of ministers to fill vacant portfolios remains unresolved, amidst ongoing political disagreements between blocs and forces regarding the distribution of ministerial positions. This raises questions about the government’s ability to implement its program and fulfill its service and economic obligations.
This comes as the government’s three-year program has reached the Council of Representatives. MP Mohammed Karim al-Baldawi, spokesperson for the Sadiqun parliamentary bloc, confirmed that the program has been submitted to the Speaker’s office, which has referred it to the relevant parliamentary committee for review and feedback before a vote.
In a statement to Al-Maalomah, al-Baldawi said, “The government program for the next three years represents the executive vision for the coming phase, especially as the country is experiencing financial and economic crises that require genuine and realistic reforms to overcome them.” He added, “The Council of Representatives is studying the program comprehensively, as its approval will activate the work of parliamentary committees to monitor the implementation of its provisions according to the established timelines.”
He added that “the Parliament’s leadership has referred the program to the relevant committee for review and to inform the members and the Speaker of the Council,” noting that “setting a date for the final vote is the responsibility of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and it is expected that it will not take long to be placed on the agenda as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, the crisis surrounding the vacant ministerial portfolios appears more complex, with no clear indications of an imminent political agreement on the candidates to fill them. This is impacting the performance of the executive branch and its ability to manage files that require fully empowered ministries.
In this context, Member of Parliament, Taqi Nasser, confirmed the absence of any positive signs or clear political horizon for resolving the issue of completing the cabinet, attributing this to the continued disagreements among political forces regarding the vacant portfolios.
Nasser told Al-Maalomah, “The continued postponement of resolving this vital issue constitutes a major obstacle and a clear disruption to executive work, further hindering the implementation of the government program intended to be put into practice.”
He added that “keeping the vacant ministries run by acting ministers or without a final decision directly exacerbates the financial and economic crises the country is experiencing, in addition to its negative impact on serving citizens’ interests and stalled service projects.” He explained that “the House of Representatives cannot fully exercise its oversight role with an incomplete cabinet.”
The timing of the cabinet dispute, coinciding with the anticipation of the government program’s approval, reveals a fundamental problem: the difficulty of translating government pledges and plans into actionable measures without a complete cabinet, especially in ministries directly related to economic and service-related matters.
Observers believe that the continued ministerial vacancies could weaken oversight and accountability mechanisms within the House of Representatives, particularly since parliamentary committees require ministers with full authority to discuss their ministries’ plans and question them about progress, spending, and the implementation of the government program.
Furthermore, the delay in voting on ministers leaves the management of several important files hostage to political agreements, at a time when the country faces challenges related to the financial situation, the implementation of service projects, and improving the performance of state institutions.
While parliamentary sources indicate the possibility of including the government program on the council’s agenda after the relevant committee finalizes its observations, the timing of finalizing the cabinet remains contingent on the progress of understandings between political blocs. This makes completing the government one of the most prominent issues awaiting resolution in the coming period.
MP Taqi Nasser called on all political blocs and forces to “adopt the language of urgent dialogue, prioritize the supreme national interest, and demonstrate a sense of legal and moral responsibility to the Iraqi people to overcome this crisis as soon as possible.” He warned that continued disagreements would leave executive and service-related matters vulnerable to obstruction.
Thus, the parliament now faces two parallel tracks: first, studying and approving the government program and activating oversight mechanisms for its implementation; and second, resolving the issue of ministers and filling vacant portfolios. The completion of both tracks is a prerequisite for the government to move from the stage of political consensus to the stage of actual implementation of announced plans and commitments.
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