Maliki calls on political blocs to present cabinet candidates by mid December

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has called on the political blocs to present their candidates for the cabinet posts in the new government by mid December, the National Alliance’s Legislature, Ali al-Shalah, said on Saturday. The Alliance have reached a preliminary agreement with other parliamentary blocs about the distribution of the cabinet posts, al-Shalah noted. “There is a preliminary agreement about the new cabinet posts, but the names are not yet set in stone,” Shilah told IraqiNews.com news agency. He described recent media reports regarding distribution of the posts as “indelicate.” “The preliminary agreement has pointed out that the culture ministry’s post be granted to the Central Alliance, whilst the interior, defense, national security and intelligence, be granted to independent elements. The agriculture, education, finance, health, will be the main leading cabinet posts to be occupied by al-Iraqiya Bloc,” al-Shalah continued “The National Alliance shall occupy the posts of oil, higher education, transportation, as well as the deputy prime minister for energy affairs, along with a number of other ministries. The foreign affairs ministry will go to the Kurdistan Alliance, along with a number of other ministries,” Shilah added. “Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has called on all political blocs to present their candidates for the new cabinet posts by mid December,” he pointed out. SKH/SR 1