Iraqi Parliament: Voting on the new cabinet will take place next week

The Iraqi parliament announced on Monday that the vote on the new government will take place next week, and that the names and the government program will be received by the end of this week.

The media office of the council said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that “the House of Representatives held its session today, chaired by Hebat al-Halbousi and attended by 217 members.”

She added, “At the beginning of the session, Al-Halbousi noted that the House of Representatives will receive the government program at the end of this week from Ali Al-Zidi, who is tasked with forming the new government, so that the members of the council can review it and study it through the Strategic Planning and Government Program Committees, pointing out that the names of the ministerial cabinet will be presented next week for a vote by the House of Representatives.”

On Monday, MP Mohammed Al-Shammari, from the parliamentary services bloc, revealed new details regarding the date for submitting the ministerial cabinet of the new government and the mechanism for deciding on it within the House of Representatives .

Al-Shammari told Shafaq News Agency that Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi has enough time constitutionally to finalize his government formation and present it to the House of Representatives within the specified period .

He added that “Al-Zidi informed the leaders of the Coordination Framework of his intention to present the ministerial cabinet on the 9th of this month,” noting that “the House of Representatives will hold a session during the next week to vote on granting confidence to the new government .”

According to the MP, the number of ministries in the next government will be 22 portfolios, distributed as follows: 12 ministries for the Coordination Framework forces, 6 ministries for the Sunni blocs, and 4 ministries for the Kurdish parties .

It is worth noting that a political source revealed to Shafaq News Agency a few days ago that the Ministry of Higher Education will be allocated to the Progress Party (which obtained the position of Speaker of Parliament) led by Mohammed al-Halbousi, which holds 27 seats as a major party, while the Azm Alliance, led by Muthanna al-Samarrai, which holds 15 seats, will obtain the Ministry of Defense .

Last week, the ruling Shiite coalition forces in Iraq announced the nomination of Ali al-Zidi for the premiership, after al-Sudani and al-Maliki withdrew from the race for the position, in a move that opened the door to a new settlement within the Shiite bloc after weeks of political deadlock over the shape of the next government and the distribution of its sovereign and service positions.

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A deputy reveals the share of the Sudanese coalition in the Al-Zidi government.

On Monday, MP Ahmed Al-Dalfi, from the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, revealed the coalition’s share in the upcoming cabinet, stating that the ministries of oil, labor and social affairs, and industry and minerals would be allocated to them.

Al-Dalfi told Shafaq News Agency that “the Reconstruction and Development Coalition will receive 5 ministerial portfolios in the new government, including the ministries of oil, labor and social affairs, and industry and minerals,” indicating that “the other ministries are currently being negotiated to secure them for the coalition.”

Al-Dalfi added that “the head of the coalition, Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, will remain a political leader and head of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, and will not be a minister in the next government.”

It is noted that the number of ministries in the next government will be 22 portfolios, distributed as follows: 12 ministries for the Coordination Framework forces, 6 ministries for the Sunni blocs, and 4 ministries for the Kurdish parties.

It is worth noting that a political source revealed to Shafaq News Agency a few days ago that the Ministry of Higher Education will be allocated to the Progress Party (which obtained the position of Speaker of Parliament) led by Mohammed al-Halbousi, which holds 27 seats as a major party, while the Azm Alliance, led by Muthanna al-Samarrai, which holds 15 seats, will receive the Ministry of Defense.

Sources also indicated that al-Zaydi will meet with Sunni leaders, including al-Halbousi, because the latter raised the bar for his party’s demands in the government cabinet, which sparked controversy behind the scenes of the political forces, especially with the Sunni ministries file entering the stage of direct negotiation.

Last week, the ruling Shiite coalition forces in Iraq announced the nomination of Ali al-Zidi for the premiership, after al-Sudani and al-Maliki withdrew from the race for the position, in a move that opened the door to a new settlement within the Shiite bloc after weeks of political deadlock over the shape of the next government and the distribution of its sovereign and service positions.

Shafaq.com

An economist says OPEC’s oil quotas need to be reconsidered after the UAE’s withdrawal.

Economic expert Dr. Safwan Qusay stressed the importance of reconsidering the oil quotas of the OPEC oil exporting organization after the UAE withdrew from it.

Qusay told Al-Maalomah, “The process of rearranging quotas within OPEC should be discussed, as the UAE’s withdrawal from the organization means a reduction in OPEC’s share of global markets. Member states cannot be allowed to increase their quotas unless there is competition to acquire a larger market share for the organization.”

He added, “There is a need to reconsider the organization’s market share based on the size of proven reserves and population in order to prevent the withdrawal of other countries, maintain OPEC’s cohesion, and try to bring in alternative members to replace the UAE.” He explained that “large-producing countries will be harmed if the UAE increases production without a quota rearrangement within OPEC,” noting that “Iraq, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have the capacity to increase oil production at reduced costs, so there should be a review of quotas within OPEC, while emphasizing the importance of the UAE continuing to avoid harming global energy prices.”

Almaalomah.me

Al-Saadawi: Appointing deputies to the President of the Republic is necessary for two reasons

Former MP Abdul Hadi Al-Saadawi, a leader in the Reconstruction and Development Bloc, confirmed on Monday that there is political movement and current understandings to push for the appointment of deputies to the President of the Republic, considering this step to have become an urgent necessity to protect the constitution.

Al-Saadawi stated in an interview with Al-Maalouma News Agency that “the issue of appointing vice presidents is being strongly considered in current political discussions and will not be limited to the present phase but will extend to future phases as well.”
He added that “this approach is based on two main reasons. The first is to prevent the president from unilaterally approving or rejecting laws and legislation issued by parliament and the government, thus ensuring the presidency’s role as a true guardian of the constitution.” He continued, “The second reason is to maintain a balance among the fundamental components of Iraqi society within the presidency, guaranteeing everyone’s participation in sovereign decision-making.”

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Reconstruction and Development: No agreement has yet been reached on the candidates for the next government.

The spokesman for the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, Firas Al-Muslawi, denied on Monday what has been circulating regarding the finalization of the names of the ministerial cabinet candidates for the next government.

Al-Muslawi told Al-Maalouma News Agency that “the names circulating in the media and on social media are inaccurate and have no basis in reality,” stressing that “the selection of ministers is still under discussion among the political forces within the coalition.”
He added that “the current political process is focused on establishing criteria that rely on competence and professional experience as the basis for selection, before moving to the stage of proposing names,” calling for “accuracy in reporting information and reliance on official sources to avoid confusing the political scene.”

Almaalomah.me

Mansour: Al-Zaidi’s visit to the region is a “necessary” step to ensure the government’s neutrality.

The leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Suzan Mansour, confirmed on Monday that the visit of the Prime Minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, to the Kurdistan Region and his meetings in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah represent a “necessary” step to ensure the neutrality of the next government.

Mansour told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “Al-Zaidi’s visit to the region sends a reassuring message that the incoming government wants to stand at an equal distance from all political forces and components.”

She explained that “the Kurdish conditions and demands presented to the prime minister-designate are not new, but rather long-standing issues,” indicating that “the most prominent of these demands focused on securing the salaries of the region’s employees, enacting the oil and gas law, as well as activating Article 140 of the constitution and guaranteeing the region’s share of the federal budgets.” She noted that “raising these issues at this time aims to find fundamental solutions that will end the outstanding disputes between Baghdad and Erbil within the framework of the new government program.”

Almaalomah.me

Kurdish demands on the table for the next government: oil, salaries, and Article 140

Political reactions continue regarding Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to the Kurdistan Region and his meetings with Kurdish leaders in Erbil and Sulaimaniyah. This visit has been described as pivotal in the process of forming the next government, with many emphasizing its importance in solidifying understandings between Baghdad and Erbil.

In this context, Suzan Mansour, a leading figure in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), affirmed that al-Zaidi’s visit represents a “necessary” step to ensure the neutrality of the next government and to strengthen trust among the various political parties.

Mansour told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “Al-Zaidi’s visit to the region sends a reassuring message that the incoming government seeks to maintain impartiality towards all political forces and groups.” She explained that “the issues raised by the region are not new, but rather long-standing demands that require fundamental solutions within the upcoming government program.”

She added that “the most prominent Kurdish demands include securing the salaries of the region’s employees, enacting the oil and gas law, activating Article 140 of the Constitution, and guaranteeing the region’s share of the federal budget.” She pointed out that “raising these issues at this time aims to end the chronic disputes between Baghdad and Erbil and establish common ground for government action.”

For his part, Mahma Khalil, a leader in the Kurdistan Democratic Party, revealed details of the meetings that brought Al-Zaidi together with the region’s leaders, confirming that the party was among the first to support him in the process of forming the next government.
Khalil told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “the meetings held by the Prime Minister-designate with both Masoud Barzani and Nechirvan Barzani were fruitful, and during them the party’s support for the next government was confirmed,” explaining that “Barzani laid out three basic pillars for participating in the government, which are: genuine partnership in decision-making, achieving balance within state institutions, and adopting political consensus among all parties.”

Regarding the parliamentary stance, Khalil clarified that “the decision by Democratic Party MPs not to attend parliamentary sessions is a temporary suspension, not a withdrawal or boycott of the political process,” noting that “this measure has been previously taken by other political forces at various stages for different reasons.”
This political activity comes at a time when the Iraqi arena is witnessing intensive efforts to bridge the gaps between political forces, particularly concerning the chronic points of contention between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region, amidst anticipation of the outcome of ongoing understandings regarding the formation of the next government and its political program.

Almaalomah.me

Chevron is negotiating for huge oil fields in Iraq as an alternative to Russian companies.

A report by the oil and energy website Motley Fool, published Monday, confirmed that oil giant Chevron is steadily becoming a major player in Iraq, a move that could attract long-term investors.

The report, translated by Al-Maalomah News Agency, stated that “the ongoing US-Israeli conflict continues to compel investors to closely monitor oil price news, while simultaneously propelling the energy sector to the forefront of the S&P 500 index. Conflict in the Middle East often leads to a surge in oil company stocks.”

The report added that “shares of oil giant Chevron have risen by 25.11 percent since the beginning of the year, partly due to the conflict in Iran, as well as expectations of a resumption of Venezuelan oil production following the departure of former President Nicolas Maduro.”

It continued, “The company has also acquired two oil fields in Iraq, which could provide a long-term boost to Chevron’s stock. It is perhaps to Chevron’s credit that it is not overestimating its opportunities in Iraq. Currently, the Middle East, as a region rather than a single country, represents only 5 percent of the company’s total production.”

Experienced investors in traditional energy stocks, including Chevron, understand that the lifeblood of the oil industry’s exploration and production sector lies in discovering new reserves. After all, no oil field provides an unlimited supply of barrels.

The report noted that “in Iraq, Chevron is achieving a significant milestone in this area. The West Qurna-2 oil field, where Chevron is replacing a Russian competitor, is estimated to hold approximately 13 billion barrels, representing 10 percent of Iraq’s total production. The Nasiriyah oil field, where Chevron is replacing another Russian company, is smaller than the other two, but still highly significant due to its estimated recoverable reserves of approximately 4.36 billion barrels.”

The report emphasized that “Russia is a major supplier of crude oil to China, and with Chevron’s entry into Iraq, China may be forced to replace some of the crude oil it previously purchased from the Kremlin. The White House is likely quite receptive to this scenario, suggesting that Chevron’s projects in Iraq may receive long-term support.” The term of the US government.

Almaalomah.me

An American institute on al-Zaidi: Did the United States hand Iraq over to al-Khazali?

The Middle East Forum, an American think tank, linked the nomination of Ali al-Zaidi to form the new Iraqi government with the question of whether the United States had handed Iraq over to Qais al-Khazali, the Secretary-General of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement.

The American Institute explained in a report translated by Shafaq News Agency that since 2018, the United States has designated many Iraqi businessmen and banks as part of a network that helps Iran and armed factions access dollars, evade sanctions, and finance their influence within the country.

While the report indicated that this network was part of the political economy that allowed militias to move from armed groups to centers of influence through money, banks, contracts and state institutions, it noted that among the names associated with this were Ali Ghulam, Salim Ahmed, and Aqeel Muften, in addition to Ali al-Zaydi, who was nominated by the Iranian-backed coordination framework to form the government.

The report noted that Al-Zaidi is linked to the South Islamic Bank, which the report described as one of the banks prohibited from dealing in dollars under measures taken by the Central Bank of Iraq following American pressure on suspicion of “money laundering, dollar smuggling and illegal use of the American currency.”

The report continued, saying that al-Zaydi’s nomination comes amid the rise of Qais al-Khazali within the state, noting that al-Zaydi is the candidate of the leader of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, with the support of the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, who is once again showing that he will not separate himself from the equation of the coordination framework.

He pointed out that Zidane could have been part of a process that would reduce Iranian influence and militias within the country, but instead he chose to protect the existing balance.

According to the report, Khazali no longer relies solely on the authority of his militias or his parliamentary bloc, as he has expanded his influence over the past years within security, economic and political institutions. He has also presented himself as the active player who protects the political system from collapse, which has strengthened his role within the state.

The report continued that, in addition to his “agents” within parliament and economic interests, Khazali strengthened his influence within sensitive security institutions, including the Counter-Terrorism Service, after the dismissal of Abdul Wahab al-Saadi and the rise of leaders closer to the coordinating framework and the parties that make it up.

The report added that if Khazali’s candidate were to become prime minister, his influence would move from influence within the government to almost complete control over it.

The report stated that Khazali’s supporters in Baghdad are promoting the idea that the US government accepts him and that Washington will deal with him in the same way it dealt with the “terrorist president” who became interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Syria. It added that this comparison presents Khazali not as the leader of an Iranian-backed faction, but as representing a new reality that Washington can work with, if he guarantees stability and brings the factions under one umbrella.

However, the report noted that the differences were clear, as al-Shar’a emerged in a different context, with broader Arab and regional support, while al-Khazali comes from within an Iranian-backed armed, economic and political network that has undermined Iraqi sovereignty.

The report said the irony is that Washington, after years of pressuring Iraqi banks and dollar networks to prevent Iran and factions from evading sanctions, now seems ready to treat al-Zaidi as an acceptable candidate.

The report went on to say that Washington’s acceptance of al-Zaidi is more problematic, as Washington is not only dealing with a candidate linked to controversial banking and business files, but also with a man who is seen in Baghdad as being close to al-Khazali, the leader of a faction classified as “terrorist” by the United States, and linked to Iran.

While the report indicated that al-Zaydi’s nomination may not be final, as he still has 30 days to form the government, it noted that if he fails, the coordinating framework will choose another candidate.

He added that al-Zaidi’s nomination may be an attempt to buy time to allow the coordinating framework to see where the confrontation between Washington and Tehran is headed, but in both cases, the prime ministership remains within the same network.

The report concluded by saying that if the Khazali network and the factions manage to form the government, Iran will have gained another four years to evade sanctions, strengthen its influence, and consolidate the control of its allies within the Iraqi state.

Shafaq.com

Iraq’s financial revenues exceed 15 trillion dinars in two months

The Ministry of Finance revealed on Monday that the volume of Iraqi revenues in the federal budget during the months of January and February of 2026 exceeded 15 trillion dinars.

Shafaq News Agency followed up on the data and tables issued by the Ministry of Finance this May for the accounts of January and February of 2026, and it was shown that the total revenues amounted to 15 trillion, 708 billion, 703 million, 55 thousand, and 312 dinars, a decrease of 13% compared to the same period of 2025, which amounted to 17 trillion, 427 billion, and 196 million dinars.

According to the financial tables, oil revenues amounted to 13 trillion, 127 billion, 528 million, and 433 thousand dinars, which constitutes 84% ​​of the general budget, while non-oil revenues amounted to 2 trillion, 581 billion, 174 million, and 621 thousand dinars.

Meanwhile, non-oil revenues transferred from the Kurdistan Region to the state treasury amounted to 120 billion dinars.

According to the financial tables, the total current expenditures amounted to 16 trillion, 978 billion, 257 million, and 451 thousand dinars, including salaries for employees that exceeded 10 trillion dinars, pensions for retirees amounting to 3 trillion dinars, in addition to social welfare salaries of 912 billion dinars.

The Iraqi state’s continued reliance on oil as the sole source of its general budget puts the country at risk from global crises that occur from time to time due to the impact on oil, which prompts governments each time to cover the deficit by borrowing from abroad or internally. This indicates an inability to manage state funds effectively and an inability to find alternative financing solutions.

Shafaq.com