Iraq parliament approves new government: PM's office

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Following a year-long deadlock brought on by contested elections, Iraqi MPs on Thursday accepted a new administration, according to the prime minister's office. "The government of Prime Minister Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani has obtained the confidence of the National Assembly," his office said in a statement after the vote.

Earlier this month, Al-Sudani was selected to lead the formation of a new government following months of conflict. "Our ministerial team will shoulder the responsibility at this critical period, in which the world is witnessing tremendous political and economic changes and conflicts," the statement read.

Those changes will "add new challenges to our country, which is already suffering from accumulated crises, that have had economic, social, humanitarian and environmental impacts on our citizens," it added.

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With 138 out of the 329 seats in parliament held by an alliance of the Coordination Framework, Al-Sudani's nomination on October 13 had the support of this group.

Earlier this month, the Iraqi coordination framework announced that it is ready to initiate dialogue and reach an understanding with all Iraqi political forces on government formation.

The Framework also announced its readiness to reach an understanding in order to form an empowered government capable of providing services and living up to the Iraqi people's expectations.

On September 28, the Iraqi parliament voted to grant its confidence to House Speaker Mohammad Al-Halbousi after the majority of MPs (222 members) refused to agree to his resignation.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi said on October 3 that the crisis in Iraq may "burn everyone" unless a meaningful dialogue takes place between political parties, adding, "We are now living in a time where values and ethics are foregone in politics" and accusations of treason ring louder than voices calling for calm and dialogue.