State of Law Coalition said on Thursday that its insistence on retaining the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the new government formation is tied to what it describes as a broader institutional reform vision rather than a simple struggle over political positions.
Coalition member Salah Boushi told local media that the ministry plays a central role in the coalition’s “state-building project” because of its ability to generate knowledge, develop expertise, and strengthen Iraqi universities as national institutions.
According to Boushi, higher education represents the “strategic depth” of institutional reform and serves as a key channel for rebuilding institutional values and reinforcing national identity.
He added that the ministry is also important for connecting university graduates to Iraq’s actual development requirements and labor market needs, an issue that has become increasingly significant amid rising unemployment and economic pressures.
Boushi emphasized that the coalition views the Ministry of Higher Education as a platform for restructuring state institutions on scientific and professional foundations within a wider reform framework, rather than as part of the traditional quota-based distribution of ministerial portfolios among political blocs.
The remarks come as negotiations continue among Iraqi political factions over the composition of the incoming government led by Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi, with disputes reportedly centered on several key sovereign and service ministries.
