Iraqi prime minister-designate faces pressure on Cabinet choices
Political pressure on the prime minister-designate, Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, could bring him down before he even forms a government.
BAGHDAD — There are multiple challenges keeping Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, recently named Iraq's prime minister-designate, from forming the government of independent technocrats that he pledged. The first major hurdle is that some political blocs want to continue to hold onto their current level of representation in the Cabinet.
Under the constitution, Allawi is required within 30 days to form a government and go to parliament to obtain a vote of confidence with an absolute majority of at least 165 out of 329 parliament members.
