·
·
World
Iraq's prime minister-designate Ali Faleh al-Zaidi presented a four-year ministerial agenda centered on state control of weapons, security reform, and balanced foreign relations.
Weapons will be placed exclusively under state authority, the rule of law enforced, and state control expanded — these are the central commitments of Iraq's prime minister-designate Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, outlined Thursday as he submitted his ministerial agenda for the 2026–2029 term to parliament speaker Heibat al-Halbousi.
Al-Zaidi's platform pledges to "strengthen the capabilities of security, intelligence, and military agencies, expand state control, diversify arms sources, and develop the capabilities of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in a way that enhances their combat readiness while defining their responsibilities, tasks, and role within the military and security system according to the law."
The agenda also includes "unifying security decision-making, linking all resources to the state system, drying up the sources of terrorism and organized crime, and enhancing border security."
On foreign policy, the prime minister-designate committed to "keeping Iraq away from the axes of regional and international conflict to protect internal stability, provide a safe environment for attracting investments, and adopt an active foreign policy." He further stated the next government would "manage foreign relations in a balanced manner, build balanced Arab relations — especially with Gulf states and regional neighbors — and not allow Iraq to become a corridor or launchpad for aggression against other countries."
Al-Zaidi met with Halbousi on Thursday to formally present the ministerial program, which will now be circulated to parliament members for study and review. A government statement said al-Zaidi confirmed he would "submit the names of the cabinet formation at a later time." Both officials stressed "the importance of cooperation and joint coordination to complete the constitutional and legal requirement of granting confidence to the government and its ministerial program as the fundamental foundation upon which the government builds its work and duties."
The prime minister-designate is expected to present a cabinet of 14 ministers out of 23 portfolios early next week, with the remaining appointments to be completed after the Eid al-Adha holiday, which ends in late May.
