Iraq gets a new government after a year of deadlock

Deutsche Welle :
The Iraqi parliament gave its approval to a new 21-member cabinet headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Thursday.
Infighting between different Shia factions following last year’s inconclusive vote left the parliament in a political deadlock.
“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 new prime minister said after the vote.
The 52-year-old prime minister is from the pro-Iran Coordination Framework parliamentary bloc which is currently the largest following the departure of lawmakers from the opposing Shia bloc under the orders of populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
Al-Sudani is taking over from Mustafa al-Kadhimi who was serving as an interim prime minister after widespread anti-government protests shook the country and triggered early elections.
The political deadlock since then has done little to quell public anger over what many see as widespread and rampant corruption.
“The epidemic of corruption that has affected all aspects of life is more deadly than the Covid-19 pandemic and has been the cause of many economic problems, weakening the state’s authority, increasing poverty, unemployment, and poor public services,” al-Sudani said in parliament.
Iraq has suffered years of conflict and mismanagement. The recent political paralysis has further added to its woes, leaving the country without a budget even oil income brings in much-needed revenues.
The lack of jobs and public services that triggered the anti-government protests have only become worse.