Iraq’s parliament had previously approved 21 out of 23 of Al-Sudani’s ministers on 27 October. However, a dispute over candidates for the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Construction and Housing stalled the formation of a new government

The dispute was due to a disagreement over the candidates by the two main Kurdish parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)

The dispute was resolved by appointing a candidate from the KDP – Bankin Abdullah Rikani – to the construction ministry and a candidate from the PUK – Nizar Muhammad Saeed Amedy – to the environment ministry.

A total of four ministries are now controlled by Kurdish parties, with the KDP also controlling the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the PUK controlling the Ministry of Justice.

Observers say the two new posts are of great importance, as the Iraqi government is looking to find ways to respond to a myriad of environmental, public service and demographic challenges, such as drought, desertification, the spread of slums, overpopulation, and the general deterioration of infrastructure in cities and rural areas.

Al-Sudani stressed his cabinet’s strong commitment to improve and develop public services, address unemployment, reform the economic and financial sectors, and combat corruption.