After more than nine months, the Iraqi political parties agreed about forming a new government. This big event that all the world news agencies covered seemed to have no echo among the Iraqi public, who completely ignored the news. 

Here are some reactions of from Iraqis across the country about their new government:

Safaa Kadhum, 39, technician, Baghdad

“I’m so happy that the government was formed because the agreement of the politicians reflects positively on our life especially on the security situation. I feel the political blocs trust each other more than the old days and there is a wider agreement and almost all the blocs got what they wanted. I think they do not have any more excuses . They should work hard for Iraq.”

Hussein Ali. 42, taxi driver, Basra

“Forming the government did not make any change. We have new names and they claim they are patriotic politicians but I am sure they are not. I hope the new government gets use of the mistakes of the former one but again, I don’t think it will. Frankly, I don’t have real big expectations. There is not real big change. The political parties will win more money and we people will be losers one more time.”

Lamyaa Hasan, 40, employee, Baghdad

“I don’t really care about forming the government because I’m sure all politicians yearn for power and increasing their bank accounts. I hope the new government pays more attention to Iraqis by improving the public services and providing better life but these things will never happen. I wish the new ministers and officials think about giving as much as think about taking but this is impossible.”

Aqeel Salman. 42, bus driver, Baghdad

“I am not really convinced with the government. I feel that the political parties had ignored completely our votes. We wanted the biggest bloc to form the government but the government was formed according to some political agreements that have no relation to the results of the election. In the next election, all of us should go and draw a big across over the election ballots to start the real change. Meanwhile, there will be no real positive changes. In fact, things would be worse than before and I am afraid that sectarian violence might increase.”

Khaleel Ghalib, 41, engineer, Karbala province

“It looks that the sectarian sharing and satisfying the political blocs are so clear and obvious. Every party took its share regardless people’s will. Increasing the number of the ministries is the best evidence for my talk. Nothing really was changed because the politicians are still talking about the share of this party and the share of that party. Few days ago, the minister of finance was talking about budget deficit and now we have more ministries. How are they going to provide budget for these extra ministries? “

Sabah Al Shijiri, 37, taxi driver, Baghdad

“Nothing really changed at all, the same old names and the same old sectarian sharing but with new name, the partnership. Increasing the ministries is the difference point and it had been added to provide positions to all the political blocs. Nothing really changed. We will keep depending on ourselves. We will keep buying the small cheap Chinese made power generators because the government will never provide enough electricity and we will keep buying the food substances because the items of the ration food card are vanishing.”

Nahla, 50, university lecturer , Erbil

“I can’t see any change. The politicians are making fun of us because they agree always to share power. They are the permanent winners and we are the permanent losers. Unfortunately, I can’t see any hope. The situation  will be worse for normal people but better for the Iraqi politicians because they will be richer.”