Iraqi PM urges political parties to bridge differences to form gov’t

BAGHDAD

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Sunday called on the country’s political parties to bridge their differences to form a new government.

"I call on all political parties to work for forming a government that could function very soon and serve the Iraqi people," al-Kadhimi said in a statement issued by his office.

"We have to look for logical solutions that reflect political maturity and responsibility,” he added.

On Saturday, the Iraqi Parliament failed to elect a new president after dozens of lawmakers boycotted the voting session.

The assembly set March 30 to hold another session to elect the country’s new president.

On Wednesday, the party of Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced an agreement with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Sunni Sovereignty Alliance on naming the KDP’s nominee Reber Ahmed for the presidency and Mohammad Jaafar al-Sadr of Al-Sadr party for the position of Iraq’s prime minister.

Under a political norm since 2006, a Kurd is elected for Iraq’s presidency, while a Sunni heads the parliament, and a Shia takes the prime minister position.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar