Iraq’s Sadr rejects secret vote for new cabinet

Supporters of Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr celebrate the results of the parliamentary election at the Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, on 13 May 2018 [Murtadha Sudani/Anadolu Agency]

Iraq’s Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr today rejected a secret vote in parliament on the new cabinet lineup.

“The people want to reform the system through an honest government with independent technocrats supervised by the prime minister-designate without pressure from parties and blocs,” Al-Sadr tweeted.

Prime Minister-designate Adil Abdul-Mahdi is today scheduled to announce his government and its programme for approval by parliament.

Earlier this month, Barham Salih, Iraq’s newly elected president, assigned Abdul-Mahdi with forming the new government.

The prime minister-designate is allegedly backed by spiritual leader of Iraqi Shia Muslims Ali Al-Sistani.

Abdul-Mahdi served as the finance minister in the caretaker government and the oil minister from 2014 to 2016.

READ: Iraq names new president and premier, ending deadlock

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