A Kurdish-Sunni alliance led by President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party Masoud Barzani and Parliament Speaker Muhammad Al-Halbousi has weakened the chances of Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Allawi to win a vote of confidence despite the possibility of a last-minute compromise. Allawi said on Wednesday he has put together a cabinet of independents, and called on parliament to hold an extraordinary session next Monday to grant it its vote of confidence. On Friday, the PM-designate invited deputies to the seat of the government to inform them about the resumes of the new ministers. Muhammad al-Khalidi, the head of the Bayraq al-Khair bloc, told Asharq Al-Awsat that 76 deputies have requested the head of parliament to hold a session on Monday. Even resigned Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi called on the parliament to meet for a vote of confidence. On Wednesday, Khalidi said the government would be approved by a comfortable majority in the presence of 220 MPs who intend to vote for it. Deputy from the Sairoon Alliance Ghaib al-Amiri shared the same view. However, other politicians and MPs expressed pessimism. According to observers, the stances of the Kurdish and Sunni parties have contributed to weakening the position of Allawi. Some politicians were hinging on differences between Sunnis and Kurds to give Allawi higher chances in forming his government and weakening Halbousi and Barzani. However, the observers said that main Shiite parties stuck to their understanding with Halbousi and Barzani. When asked whether Allawi’s government would receive a vote of confidence on Monday, former MP Haidar al-Malla told Asharq Al-Awsat, “The issue has become very difficult,” adding that Halbousi and Barzani informed Fatah leader Hadi al-Ameri their rejection to support the government. “The issue is not related to the cabinet lineup or program of the new government, but the person of Mohammed Allawi, who is now rejected,” Malla said. Deputy Hussein Arab from the Eradaa Movement told Asharq Al-Awsat that the “situation has become more complicated.” He said the Halbousi-Barzani alliance would not be helpful in granting parliament’s vote of confidence to the new government. Iraqi Forces Alliance MP Mohammed al-Karbouli said his bloc will abstain from voting by meeting the demands of the Iraqi protesters. “Allawi failed to choose ministers based on the conditions placed by demonstrators. Therefore, he is not the person suitable to run the current phase in Iraq,” Karbouli said.