Iraq parliament approves al-Zaidi’s cabinet amid growing economic concerns

What the report says

Iraq’s parliament has completed the approval of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s cabinet, ending a five-month process that began when his government took office. Lawmakers in Baghdad backed 11 pending ministerial posts and three deputy prime ministers on Thursday, according to Al Jazeera, filling key vacancies in the administration.

The vote included appointments for defence and interior minister, along with portfolios for planning, culture, and higher education. Parliament delayed one nomination, for migration and displacement minister, after parties failed to reach agreement. One of the newly approved deputy prime ministers is Laith al-Khazali, a senior figure in the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement and the brother of its leader. Al Jazeera noted that the United States has sanctioned the group and both brothers.

The cabinet approval comes as Iraq faces mounting economic pressure. Al-Zaidi said his government is dealing with liquidity shortages linked to regional conflict and has had to devalue the Iraqi dinar to support public spending and salaries. He also said the administration inherited a large public debt and needs substantial monthly funding for wages and essential services.

More broadly, the development matters because it completes the formal structure of al-Zaidi’s government at a time when Iraq is navigating financial stress, sovereignty concerns, and disputes over armed groups and foreign military presence. Al Zaidi said his government intends to fight corruption and strengthen state control, though the article does not detail how those goals will be carried out.