The Iraqi government is facing a political crisis after five more Cabinet members announced they will start boycotting government meetings. Of Iraq’s 38 ministers, 17 have now either left the government or suspended their participation in it. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government no longer has any members affiliated with Sunni political factions. This is seen as a deep blow to attempts to craft reconciliation among the country’s majority Shiites and minority Sunnis and Kurds. According to the McClatchy newspapers, Iraq’s government is now paralyzed because Maliki is unable to convene a quorum of the council of ministers to approve legislation or take other actions. Joost Hiltermann of the International Crisis Group said the Iraqi government cannot survive all these defections. Hiltermann said, “The Shiites and the Kurds don’t want to cede power to people they don’t trust. But if they don’t, there won’t be reconciliation. Then all we can look forward to is civil war.”