Ali Faleh Al-Zaydi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, is still struggling to fill 9 vacant ministerial positions in his cabinet more than a hundred days after the parliament's vote of confidence. Al-Zaydi's cabinet started with only 14 ministers, while 9 sensitive ministries remain without a minister.
Internal Challenges and Foreign Interventions
The Prime Minister of Iraq must quickly present the names of proposed ministers for 9 key ministries including Defense, Interior, Planning, Higher Education, Construction and Housing, Labor and Social Affairs, Youth and Sports, Migration and Displaced Persons, and Culture to the parliament. However, Iraqi experts and politicians believe that ongoing internal disputes and foreign interventions, especially from the United States, have prevented this from happening. These interventions have led to some of Al-Zaydi's proposed candidates being vetoed by Washington due to their proximity to resistance groups such as Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi.
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Concerns About the Future of the Iraqi Government
For many observers, this situation could lead to the complete failure of Al-Zaydi's government and the dissolution of his fledgling cabinet in the early months of its activity. These concerns arise as Al-Zaydi seeks to strengthen international relations and economic cooperation. In this context, he has recently traveled to France and Germany and is trying to garner necessary support by signing memoranda of understanding with European countries.
Al-Zaydi's trip to Berlin followed his meeting with Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, which resulted in the signing of 6 memoranda of understanding in various fields. These memoranda included cooperation in defense, artificial intelligence, gas, and aviation. Additionally, Al-Zaydi and Macron agreed to hold a Baghdad-Paris conference that could help strengthen Iraq's position on the international stage.
Alongside these developments, Mohammed Ali Al-Lami, the head of Iraq's Anti-Corruption Organization, called for more international cooperation in pursuing corruption cases and strengthening international information in this regard during a meeting with Lucas Philippe, the head of Interpol. These actions reflect Iraq's efforts to improve its internal situation and attract international support.
Educational Developments in Iraq
Domestically, the Ministry of Education of Iraq announced that the start of the new academic year 2026–2027 has been postponed to Sunday, October 11, due to the need to complete the second round of exams and prepare schools. This decision reflects the challenges present in Iraq's educational system and efforts to improve educational conditions in the country.
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