Iraq’s former spy chief was sworn in as Prime Minister by lawmakers early Thursday after weeks of tense political negotiations as the country faces a severe economic crisis spurred by plummeting oil prices and coronavirus pandemic. The majority of 255 legislators attending the session approved the Government plan and the majority of Cabinet ministers proposed by Mustafa al-Kadhimi, officially inaugurating him as Iraq’s sixth premier since 2003 and ending five months of a leadership void.
Legislators accepted 15 ministers and rejected five, among them the ministries of trade, justice, culture, agriculture and migration.