The decision likely complicates negotiations over the remaining cabinet positions in Abdul Mahdi's government, as the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) had hoped to secure the position for itself.

On Monday, the prime minister announced judge Dara Nuradin as his pick for the ministry, which drew the PUK's ire.

The following day, the Council of Representatives tried to convene to vote of Abdul Mahdi's cabinet nominees, but boycotts led by Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Saeroon List and the PUK prevented parliament from achieving quorum.

A new session was originally scheduled for Thursday, but it has been postponed until Sunday at the earliest.

On Thursday, PUK spokesperson Saadi Ahmed Pira said that the KDP was working to thwart PUK appointments to the cabinet in retaliation for the PUK winning the presidency.

Reporter’s code: 50101