Iraq’s Cabinet trimming won’t affect Christian share in government, Christian Leader says

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Chairman of the Christian al-Rafidain Bloc, Younadim Kanna, has said on Sunday that the planned Cabinet trimming won’t affect the Christian share in the government.   “The planned decision to trim down the Iraqi Cabinet, agreed upon in a meeting of the Chairmen of the political parties had included a condition to protect the elections rights and the woman’s share,” Kanna told IraqiNews.com news agency.   He said that “the leaders of the political blocs have agreed on the abolishment of the ministries of state, as a first stage, with the exception of the ministries of woman, provinces and the Parliament’s affairs,” adding that the second stage would cover the said ministries.   Kann said that Monday’s Parliamentary session would witness the Parliament’s agreement on the trimming decision.   Noteworthy is that the Christian component in the current government is represented by one ministry, which is the Ministry of Environment, which would be merged with the Health Ministry, according to the plan to trim down the Cabinet.   Prime Minister Nouri al-Malilki had sent a demand to the Parliament to trim down his Cabinet to 29 ministries from its current number of 43 ministries.   SKH (IT)   404