Iraqi members of parliament (MP) were met yesterday for the first time since the end of the five-day Eid al-Adha but hopes a new government would be formed quickly were dampened on news Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki would not be named prime minister-designate for several days.
The latest session of parliament, still only the fourth since polls in March, comes days after a power-sharing pact between Iraq’s divided political factions put an end to months of impasse in which the country shattered the record for the longest period without a new administration following elections.
Newly re-elected Iraqi President Jalal Talabani was not expected to officially ask al-Maliki to form a Cabinet until Thursday, a parliamentary official said, so as to give al-Maliki more time to negotiate ministerial posts.
Under Iraq’s Constitution, Talabani has 15 days to appoint a prime minister following his selection by MPs on Nov. 11. He had earlier been expected to name al-Maliki as prime minister yesterday.
“Jalal Talabani decided to nominate [al-]Maliki as prime minister on Thursday, one day before the official limit,” the official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. “That is to give him the maximum amount of time to form the government, which is a very difficult task.”
Yesterday’s scheduled session of parliament was to focus on the establishment of its committees and regulations, the official added.
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