New Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and his cabinet win MPs’ vote of confidence, take oath of office

The Kurdistan Parliament today 10th July voted on giving confidence to the new Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, and his ministerial nominees. He garnered the support of 88 MPs (of a total of 111), and each of his ministerial candidates won votes of confidence by large majorities. Prime Minister Barzani announced his cabinet’s programme (external link to KRG website), which he said was conceived and drafted by all the parties in the government coalition. He said that this cabinet will focus on reform and improving services to the people.

Prime Minister Barzani, Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and the ministers took the oath of office.

Parliament Speaker Dr. Vala Fareed and three other MPs have become ministers in the new cabinet, so will automatically lose their membership of Parliament. Once Dr. Fareed was sworn in as minister, Parliament Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami took over the proceedings. He announced that Paliament will sit tomorrow, 11th July at 11am to elect a new Speaker. 

Dr. Fareed has been appointed Minister of the Region. The other three MPs were Begard Talabani (PUK), who has been appointed Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources; Abdullah Haji Mahmud (Sardam, Socialist Democratic Party ) Minister of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs; and Aydin Marouf Salim (Turkmen Front) Minister of the Region. See the complete list of ministers.

Watch the video of the sitting: