Mohammed al-Halbousi, speaker of the Iraqi parliament and member of the Sunni National Axis Alliance that is allied with the pro-Iran Binaa bloc of Hadi al-Amiri, reportedly discussed offering the Ministry of Defense post to Shiite commanders in the Iraqi army.
The speaker has spoken to seven leading Shiite figures in the “military institutions,” telling them to consider nominating themselves to head up the Ministry of Defence, Haybat Abbas al-Halbousi, a National Axis Alliance MP, told Rudaw.
One of the figures asked to consider running for the post is Lt. Gen. Abdul Ghani al-Assad, commander of the elite Counter-Terror Services, he added.
The Ministry of Defence has traditionally been held by Sunnis. This year, however, Sunnis are divided into two blocs. Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi has presented Faysal al-Jarba, of the rival Islah and Iimar bloc, as his candidate.
“The National Axis is keen to shun the sectarianism and partisan allotment that has expanded its reach within the division of ministerial posts in the cabinet of Adil Abdul-Mahdi,” MP Halbousi told Rudaw.
An MP from his rival bloc, Talal al-Zubaai, denounced the speaker’s efforts as defying the wishes of the Sunni population.
“Defence is strictly the share of the Sunni component. Selling it cheaply by a certain political party or a certain individual doesn’t represent the opinion of the Sunni political spectrum with its entire leadership and MPs,” he tweeted.
Arguments over the security ministries – defence and interior – have stalled finalization of Abdul-Mahdi’s cabinet. They are eight of the outstanding posts to be filled by a vote in parliament that has been delayed three times.
On Tuesday, the prime minister admitted that the eight ministries were out of his control, but were party choices.
There is speculation is that Jarba’s backers may take his name out of the ring and let Abdul-Mahdi make the decision.
Influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has urged the prime minister to give the security ministries to independent technocrats to insulate the sensitive sector from party influence.
