22 December 2010 Last updated at 11:24 ET

Iraqis react to formation of new government

Iraq's parliament has approved a new government made up of all major factions, bringing an end to nine months of deadlock after inconclusive elections.

In a special session, MPs voted for the 29 ministerial candidates nominated by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, a Shia, who was reappointed for a second term.

Here, Iraqi readers give their views on the make-up of the long-awaited new government.

Faisal Saeed Al-Mutar, 19, Baghdad

I do think that the new government will be better than the previous one, even though it is still based on sectarianism.

Let's not forget, however, that these years are transitional between the dark tyranny of Saddam Hussein and new democracy, so I don't expect it to be perfect.

I hope that Iyad Allawi will play a major role in this new government.

I still remember when he was prime minister, Iraq was much safer and it was better than it has been under his successors.

The most important ministries are the ministry of interior, defence and national security. They will decide Iraq's future.

But I am hopeful for Iraq's political future. We are the only Arab country with such a democracy.

The new Iraqi government and people should be proud of that and try their best to strengthen this democracy.

I hope my dreams will come true to see a beautiful, safe, free and secular Iraq.

Hassan Jaffar, 21, Baghdad

This has gone down in history as the longest, most sluggish government ever to be formed.

There was also a huge amount of corruption involved in the formation of this government.

Iraq is still an underdeveloped country with unemployment at a staggering 55%.

Al-Qaeda still roams the streets freely with borders wide open to Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iran.

Militants and insurgents flock to Iraq to make the most out of their pre-planned chaotic agendas.

Iraq's new government is like running a car with cooking oil.

It just won't work and this will leave the country very vulnerable from their Wahabi neighbours, who do not want Iraq to succeed and want to overtake it as the world's largest oil producer.

Personally, the only way I see Iraq stepping out of this ongoing misery and backwardness is a coup.

This government must be overthrown and the country run by a small number of people who have the interests of the nation at heart.

They will need to have a hard approach to issues and seek major reform in solving the energy and security crises, whilst restoring Iraq's integrity in the world.

Samir Saad, Baghdad

This is what Iraqis have waited for. It is a milestone in the long walk to democracy in this country.

The make-up of the new government is the only possible way to get its approval from the current parliament.

I think that all the various political groups will manage to work together somehow, especially under the leadership of Mr Maliki.

It will be a difficult task for them and for the prime minister but I am confident he can settle and resolve any issues, as we saw from his experience in the previous government.

So, I am optimistic and I think that many Iraqis are of the same opinion.

Sadik, Baghdad

I am pessimistic about the new government, as it represents the interests of political groups, rather than normal Iraqis.

Have you seen or heard of a government with 42 ministries? What are they all for?

Unprecedented privileges - such as high salaries and expensive land in specific districts - have been allocated to parliamentarians and ministers.

And still there is no law that stipulates what kind of budgets they have at their disposal, or how much money they should spend.

The new government will increase the deficit of the Iraqi budget, but they think that the passing of oil laws will increase Iraqi oil revenue.

The suffering of the Iraqi people will continue.

Corruption and sectarianism are entrenched in the structure of the state and still there is no political will to tackle it.

Political groups are going to be involved in new ferocious squabbling, as there are still many issues that need to be resolved for such a reconciliation process to be implemented.

I think violence is going to continue, and the many political groups will support it for their own gains.