Iraqi ministers fall like dominoes as Maliki’s bloc targets Abadi
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is facing stiff opposition from within his parliamentary bloc, the State of Law Coalition led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. So far, this group has achieved the sacking of two ministers, each of whom importantly contributed to the current hardships of Iraq. Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi was dismissed on Aug. 25, and confidence was withdrawn from Finance […]Ali Mamouri writes for Al-Monitor:
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is facing stiff opposition from within his parliamentary bloc, the State of Law Coalition led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. So far, this group has achieved the sacking of two ministers, each of whom importantly contributed to the current hardships of Iraq.
Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi was dismissed on Aug. 25, and confidence was withdrawn from Finance Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Sept. 21. Talk is now growing louder in the parliament corridors that Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari will be questioned in parliament and eventually dismissed. More dismissals may follow.
On the other side, Abadi is trying to tighten his political alliance to enhance his position against Maliki and avoid being dismissed by the parliament. Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) spokesman Safeen Dizayi announced on Sept. 27 that President Massoud Barzani had accepted Abadi's invitation to visit Baghdad to discuss the post-Islamic State future of Iraq and the disputes between Baghdad and Erbil. The first visit in five years of frosty relations between the KRG and the government in Baghdad kicked off today, Sept. 29, and after meeting with Abadi, Barzani reported that all the disputed issues between Erbil and Baghdad have been "resolved."
