Iraq's PM designate mired in Cabinet dilemma
Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi is unable to form a Cabinet accepted by Iraqi protesters and political parties.
BAGHDAD — Following his latest failed effort to form a Cabinet this week, Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, who was nominated as a compromise candidate for solving the political deadlock between the protesters, the state and varied political parties, is losing support from all sides.
Sunni and Kurdish blocs boycotted a parliamentary session Feb. 28, leading to its cancellation. The blocs complained that Allawi had not consulted them about selecting his Cabinet.
The next session is expected to be held Feb. 29 or March 1, but this is not yet confirmed. Still, there is no sign of agreement between the political parties over Allawi's Cabinet.
Allawi's failure to form a government came as no surprise. He had previously complained that different political parties were pressuring him and not allowing him to choose nonsectarian, independent Cabinet ministers.
