A well-informed source revealed today, Tuesday, the names of several candidates to take on vacant ministerial portfolios in Prime Minister Ali Al-Zeidi's government, distributed among various political blocs and forces, amidst anticipation of a parliamentary session to vote on them according to the date proposed by the Prime Minister, while consultations are still ongoing to finalize the positions of his deputies.
The source stated in a press interview that "the list of candidates presented for voting includes Safaa Al-Kinani to take over the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the Wisdom Movement, and Mohammed Sahib Al-Daraji for the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, or its equivalent new ministerial designation, from the Services Alliance, while the name Ali Al-Dukhaili was proposed for the Ministry of Tourism as a compromise candidate within the political understandings."
He added that "the Sadqun bloc nominated Mohammed Al-Moussawi for the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, while the State of Law Coalition pushed forward two candidates: Yasser Al-Maliki for the Ministry of Interior, and Haidar Baha for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research."
The source pointed out that "the Kurdistan Democratic Party nominated Ribaz Hamlan for the Ministry of Construction and Housing."
Regarding the share of Sunni political forces, the source explained that "the circulated names include Mohammed Tamim for the position of Deputy Prime Minister, amidst political debate regarding his nomination for this position, along with Naif Al-Shammari for the Ministry of Defense, Mohammed Ali Al-Naimi for the Ministry of Planning, and Zaid Ali for the Ministry of Culture."
The source confirmed that "the list remains subject to modification until the last moments before the convening of the session of the House of Representatives designated for voting, as negotiations between the political parties regarding some portfolios and positions continue."
He noted that "the consultations regarding the finalization of the nominees for the positions of Deputy Prime Ministers may be completed tomorrow, Wednesday, in light of a political trend to pass the nominees in a single package, including the ministers and Deputy Prime Minister Ali Al-Zeidi."
Earlier, Prime Minister Ali Al-Zeidi sent an official letter to the House of Representatives proposing to set Thursday, October 15, 2026, as the date for voting on the nominees for Deputy Prime Ministers and the vacant and newly created ministries.
Al-Zeidi clarified in the letter that Deputy Prime Ministers will not receive salaries or financial allocations, and no new appointments will be made for their offices.