Iraqi PM denies rumors of cabinet reshuffle months after taking office
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Sunday denied rumors circulating on social media platforms about a cabinet reshuffle as “baseless and untrue.”
The Iraqi premier had said upon taking office that his government would evaluate the performance of ministers “based on professional standards” after six months, with the changes having been expected to take place after Eid al-Fitr.
Earlier in April, rumors circulating on social media platforms suggested that key ministers, including oil and electricity, will be replaced after the Muslim holiday, pending a final decision from the pro-Iran Coordination Framework who back Sudani and compose the majority of his cabinet.
“We are aware of reports circulating on social media platforms about changes in senior government positions in the Iraqi state. We would like to clarify that all of these reports are baseless and untrue,” a statement from Sudani’s office read, urging instead for the referral to official media platforms in the event of changes taking place.
Sudani, the candidate of the Iran-backed Coordination Framework, was selected to form the new Iraqi government on October 13 after over a year of tense political deadlock and infighting between pro-Iran factions and Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s loyalists.
Upon taking office later in the month, Sudani vowed to tackle “the pandemic of corruption” and labeled it as one of his foremost priorities.
The premier has also not shied away from dismissing officials from senior positions. On Thursday, he sacked the commander of the Special Division in Baghdad for “insufficient action” after an official convicted of corruption and fraud escaped from a prison which he oversaw security in.
The Iraqi premier had said upon taking office that his government would evaluate the performance of ministers “based on professional standards” after six months, with the changes having been expected to take place after Eid al-Fitr.
Earlier in April, rumors circulating on social media platforms suggested that key ministers, including oil and electricity, will be replaced after the Muslim holiday, pending a final decision from the pro-Iran Coordination Framework who back Sudani and compose the majority of his cabinet.
“We are aware of reports circulating on social media platforms about changes in senior government positions in the Iraqi state. We would like to clarify that all of these reports are baseless and untrue,” a statement from Sudani’s office read, urging instead for the referral to official media platforms in the event of changes taking place.
Sudani, the candidate of the Iran-backed Coordination Framework, was selected to form the new Iraqi government on October 13 after over a year of tense political deadlock and infighting between pro-Iran factions and Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s loyalists.
Upon taking office later in the month, Sudani vowed to tackle “the pandemic of corruption” and labeled it as one of his foremost priorities.
The premier has also not shied away from dismissing officials from senior positions. On Thursday, he sacked the commander of the Special Division in Baghdad for “insufficient action” after an official convicted of corruption and fraud escaped from a prison which he oversaw security in.