Prime Minister of Iraq

The prime minister of the Republic of Iraq is the foremost executive of the Iraqi government and the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces. The premier is responsible for the general policy of the state and directs the Council of Ministers, with the power to dismiss and name any senior executive, including ministers and generals.<ref>Template:Cite web Article 78: “The Prime Minister is the direct executive authority responsible for the general policy of the State and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He directs the Council of Ministers, presides over its meetings, and has the right to dismiss the Ministers, with the consent of the Council of Representatives.”</ref> In addition to the armed forces, the premier has direct authority over all of those intelligence and security agencies under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Prime Minister, such as the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service and the Iraqi National Intelligence Service.

On 27 October 2022, Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani became the incumbent prime minister.

History

The prime minister was originallyTemplate:When an appointed office, subsidiary to the head of state, and the nominal leader of the Iraqi parliament. Under the 2005 constitution the prime minister is the country's active executive authority. Nouri al-Maliki (formerly Jawad al-Maliki) was selected to be prime minister on 21 April 2006.<ref>Iraq parliament elects new leaders CNN, 22 April 2006</ref><ref>Maliki endorsed as new Iraqi PM BBC News, 22 April 2006</ref> On 14 August 2014, al-Maliki agreed to step down as prime minister of Iraq to allow Haider al-Abadi to take his place.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 25 October 2018, Adil Abdul-Mahdi was sworn into office five months after the 2018 elections until his resignation in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was once again appointed, this time as a caretaker prime minister due to political dispute.Template:Cn Abdul-Mahdi was replaced by Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, who was approved by the parliament on 7 May 2020.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Al-Kadhimi was replaced by Al-Sudani after the 2021 Iraqi parliamentary election.

Appointment

After an election,Template:Cn the Council of Representatives elects the Presidency Council of Iraq, including the president of the Council of Ministers. The Presidency Council must then name a prime minister unanimously within two weeks. If it fails to do so, then the responsibility of naming the prime minister reverts to the Counvil of Representatives. In that event, the Council of Representatives must confirm the nomination by an absolute majority. If the prime minister is unable to nominate his Council of Ministers within one month, the Presidency Council must name another prime minister.

Agencies directly subordinate

The Counter Terrorism Bureau, National Intelligence Service, National Security Service, Falcons Intelligence Cell, and Popular Mobilization Commission report to the prime minister directly. The Iraqi CTB oversees the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Command, a formation that includes all Iraqi Special Operations Forces. In June 2009, there were ongoing efforts to make the Iraqi CTB a separate ministry.<ref>Montrose Toast, Iraqi Counter Terrorism Bureau, 30 June 2009</ref>

Seat

The prime minister's office is located in the Al Zaqura Building in the Green Zone, Baghdad.

See also

• List of kings of Iraq
• List of presidents of Iraq