Prime Minister of Iraq facts for kids

The Prime Minister of Iraq is like the main leader of the government in Iraq. They are in charge of running the country day-to-day and are also the top commander of Iraq's armed forces. Since October 27, 2022, Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani has been the Prime Minister.

What the Prime Minister Does

The Prime Minister of Iraq is the head of government. This means they lead the Council of Ministers, which is like the cabinet of the country. They make important decisions about how the government works and how the country is run. They also lead the Iraqi Armed Forces, making them the top military leader.

History of the Role

The job of Prime Minister in Iraq started a long time ago, in 1920. At first, the Prime Minister was chosen by the head of state (like a king or president) and was mainly a leader in the Iraqi parliament.

Over time, the role became much more powerful. With the 2005 constitution, the Prime Minister became the main person in charge of the country's executive branch. This means they have the most power in carrying out laws and managing the government.

Some important Prime Ministers in recent history include Nouri al-Maliki, who stepped down in 2014, allowing Haider al-Abadi to take over. Later, Adil Abdul-Mahdi became Prime Minister in 2018. After some political changes, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi took the role in 2020, followed by the current Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, after the 2021 elections.

How a Prime Minister is Chosen

After an election in Iraq, the country's parliament, called the Council of Representatives, first chooses the President and their deputies.

Then, a special group called the Presidency Council must agree on a Prime Minister within two weeks. If they can't agree, the parliament gets to choose. The parliament then needs to approve the chosen person with a majority vote.

If the person chosen as Prime Minister can't pick their team of ministers within one month, the Presidency Council has to choose someone else to be Prime Minister.

Sometimes, for a Prime Minister to be appointed, they also need quiet approval from other countries like the United States and Iran. This is because these countries have some influence in Iraqi politics.

Where the Prime Minister Works

The Prime Minister's main office is in the Al Zaqura Building. This building is located in an area of Baghdad called the Green Zone.

See also

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