Salih orders PM-designate to form new cabinet within constitutional timeline

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraqi president Barham Salih has ordered Prime Minister-designate Adil Abdul-Mahdi to form the new government within the constitutional timeline.

During their meeting on Monday, Salih stressed that the new government should be a strong one and capable of meeting the aspirations of the Iraqi people.

The new cabinet, according to a statement by Salih’s media office, should be formed within the constitutional timeline, namely 30 days from the date of presidential inauguration.

Abdul-Mahdi received earlier in the day at his office in Baghdad Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi.

The meeting tackled the latest political developments in Iraq as well as the formation of the new government.

The two sides stressed the importance of cooperation between Iraq’s government, parliament and presidency in the coming period so that the situation in Iraq can improve at all levels.

They further called for promoting cooperation between the executive and legislative powers to pass laws that could serve citizens and help attract investments into the country.

Iraq’s newly-elected president Barham Salih named on Tuesday Abdul-Mahdi as prime minister-designate and tasked him with forming a new government.

The announcement was aired on the official Iraqi TV a few hours after Salih was named as Iraq’s president.

Under the Iraqi constitution, Abdul-Mahdi would have 30 days to form a cabinet and present it to parliament for approval.