Iraqi Parliament set to vote on PM-designate’s Cabinet Today

Iraq’s Parliament is set to convene on Wednesday to approve a new government proposed by prime minister-designate Mustafa Al Kadhimi, according to officials.

For months political deadlock in Parliament has held up the selection of an interim prime minister after Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned in November but stayed on as caretaker.

The constitutional deadline to name a replacement for Mr. Abdul Mahdi expires on May 9.

“I expect Mustafa Al Kadhimi’s Cabinet to pass as he has the support of about 200 members of Parliament,” a politician said.

Under Iraq’s constitution, Mr. Al Kadhimi’s Cabinet must be approved by Parliament or President Barham Salih will need to appoint a new candidate.

Mr. Salih tipped Mr. Al Kadhimi for the post in early April, making him the third nominee in 10 weeks to form a government.

In 2016, Al Kadhimi took the position as the head of intelligence and was known to be a human-rights activist and a political writer.

Last week he presented parliament with a new government plan that proposes to restrict access to weapons, curb corruption and hold early elections.

Al Kadhimi met Parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Al Halbousi on Tuesday evening to discuss the holding of the session.

“The officials expressed their aspirations to form a strong government that would meet the aspirations and legitimate demands of the Iraqi people,” said Al Kadhimi’s office said.

The development comes as Iraqi security forces launched a new anti-ISIS operation in the West on Tuesday.

“Operation Desert Lions was launched to hunt down terrorist remnants,” said a security statement.

Forces from the Anbar and Al Jazeera Operations Commands and Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), are taking part in the operation.

It follows a series of recent attacks by the terror group raising concerns that the militants are staging a comeback in the country.

Baghdad declared victory over ISIS in December 2017 after a three-year military campaign against it.