Iraqi lawmakers have approved a new government led by Ali Al-Zaidi, who took office after months of deadlock and mounting US pressure.
“The Council of Representatives votes to grant confidence to the government of Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi and its ministerial programme,” the prime minister’s media office said on Thursday.
In Iraq, a government wins a confidence vote when parliament approves half plus one of its ministries.
Al-Zaidi and the ministers who secured parliamentary confidence took the constitutional oath, formally assuming their duties.
Al-Zaidi’s government should include 23 ministers, but its line-up remains incomplete as key political parties continue to negotiate several portfolios.
The INA state news agency said that an “absolute majority” of MPs approved 14 ministerial nominations that were put to a vote.
Al-Zaidi presented his government programme during the parliament session, which was not broadcast live, but he has yet to announce it publicly.
Al-Zaidi, Iraq’s youngest prime minister at the age of 40, was chosen to form the new government on April 27.
