Baghdad: State of Law Coalition MP Thaer Makhif al-Jubouri has voiced strong opposition to the Cabinet’s recent decision to appoint new ambassadors based on partisan quotas, a move he claims perpetuates sectarianism in Iraq.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, al-Jubouri stated, “This vote reinforces partisan and sectarian quotas. It would have been better to move away from these partisan quotas, which do not help build Iraq. This vote embodies sectarianism and regionalism.” He emphasized that the appointment of unqualified individuals to senior positions, such as ambassadorships, is driven by the parties’ desire for survival and dominance in the political landscape.

Al-Jubouri further explained that while political parties worldwide aim to serve the citizenry and garner support, the approach in Iraq is contrary. He criticized Iraqi parties for fostering sectarianism, regionalism, and nationalism to maintain power, rather than serving the public’s interests.

On July 22, 2025, the Council of Ministers voted on a list of approximately 93 ambassadors. The Foreign Service Law No. (45) of 2008 outlines the nominating mechanism under Article 9, emphasizing that only up to 25% of ambassadors should be appointed from outside the diplomatic corps. However, the current list reflects a 50% appointment rate among diplomatic corps employees and party candidates, deviating from the stipulated guidelines.