The Iraqi Parliament turns into an arena of clashes... and fistfights occur during the government session (video)

Iraqi media reported that the clashes occurred against the backdrop of disagreements over not granting confidence to some candidates for ministerial portfolios, which prompted the Presidency of Parliament to temporarily suspend the session after voting on 14 ministers out of 23.

The Iraqi Parliament voted to grant confidence to the Al-Zaidi government and its ministerial platform, while keeping Fuad Hussein as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and approved by majority the appointment of Bassem Muhammad Khudair as Minister of Oil, and unanimously appointed Faleh Al-Sari as Minister of Finance.

It was also decided to postpone voting on 9 ministries until after Eid al-Adha, after Parliament did not grant confidence to the candidates for the Ministries of Planning, Culture, Construction, Education, and Interior.

According to the Iraqi News Agency, 266 deputies attended the voting session, while Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and the ministers who gained confidence took the constitutional oath, marking the official start of their duties.

Among the ministers who received Parliament’s confidence are:

Bassem Muhammad Khudair, Minister of Oil

Mohamed Nouri Ahmed, Minister of Industry

Ali Saad Wahib, Minister of Electricity

Abdul Hussein Aziz, Minister of Health

Sarwa Abdel Wahed, Minister of Environment

Abdul Rahim Jassim, Minister of Agriculture

Muthanna Ali Mahdi, Minister of Water Resources

Mustafa Nizar Jumaa, Minister of Trade

Khaled Shawani, Minister of Justice

Abdul Karim Abtan, Minister of Education

Wahb Salman Mohammed, Minister of Transport