Sadr urges Iraq’s PM-designate to maintain grip on key security posts
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Sayirun alliance chief Muqtada al-Sadr has urged Adil Abdul Mahdi, Iraq’s prime minister designate, not to assign security positions in his new government to political parties, but instead to “keep them in his hand”.
“The prime minister [designate] shall keep the defense and interior ministries and all sensitive security posts exclusively in his hand, and no party or faction has the right to nominate any person for them. Also, Iraqi army and security forces shall have loyalty only to people,” Shiite cleric Sadr tweeted on Saturday.
These key posts must go to “independent technocrats” based on experience and qualifications, he added.
Regarding parliamentary committees, Sadr said all political parties have the right to lead these bodies, but insisted “the people’s interests shall be taken into consideration, not [those] of parties, and religious and ethnic groups”.
Under the complex political order created after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime, government posts are usually shared out among Iraq’s ethnic and religious groups. The Shiites, who are the largest group, take the post of prime minister, the Sunnis take the speaker, and the Kurds the presidency.
The ministries of defense and of the interior have previously been disputed between Shiite and Sunni political parties during the formation of past governments.
The commander-in-chief of Iraq’s armed forces, meanwhile, is held by the prime minister.
Sadr’s push for more technocrats in government is designed to shake up the old patronage networks and install the most competent ministers.
The Iraqi government is keen to bring armed groups, including the Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitias, under complete federal control.
“The prime minister [designate] shall keep the defense and interior ministries and all sensitive security posts exclusively in his hand, and no party or faction has the right to nominate any person for them. Also, Iraqi army and security forces shall have loyalty only to people,” Shiite cleric Sadr tweeted on Saturday.
These key posts must go to “independent technocrats” based on experience and qualifications, he added.
Regarding parliamentary committees, Sadr said all political parties have the right to lead these bodies, but insisted “the people’s interests shall be taken into consideration, not [those] of parties, and religious and ethnic groups”.
Under the complex political order created after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime, government posts are usually shared out among Iraq’s ethnic and religious groups. The Shiites, who are the largest group, take the post of prime minister, the Sunnis take the speaker, and the Kurds the presidency.
The ministries of defense and of the interior have previously been disputed between Shiite and Sunni political parties during the formation of past governments.
The commander-in-chief of Iraq’s armed forces, meanwhile, is held by the prime minister.
Sadr’s push for more technocrats in government is designed to shake up the old patronage networks and install the most competent ministers.
The Iraqi government is keen to bring armed groups, including the Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitias, under complete federal control.