With 325 members of Parliament and such disparate ideologies, it won't be easy for the 37 cabinet members to find common ground as they attempt to shape policy and priorities.
But the fact Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was able to reach such a historic agreement, just days before a constitutionally mandated deadline, shows that he is gaining strength and respect as a leader.
It's been a tumultuous time in Iraq since the United States invaded the country more than seven years ago. Violence, assassinations, unemployment and crumbling infrastructure have made it difficult for people to believe they will ever live in a safe and democratic country.
And will they? That remains to be seen, but at least there's a greater sense of stability in Iraq these days. The police and army are functioning as they should, and there seems to be a will to look at the needs of the country as a whole, instead of aligning by sectarian, tribal or political lines.
Perhaps the most important sign that the world has confidence in al-Maliki is the fact that last week the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to lift the 19-year-old sanctions against Iraq that deal specifically with weapons and civilian nuclear power.
The security council also agreed to give oil and natural gas revenues back to the Iraqi government in the late spring or early summer. Both approvals were given after a power-sharing deal was struck, but before a government was put in place. That suggested a high level of trust in Iraqi leaders.
U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden said the UN resolutions "bring an end to the burdensome remnants of the dark era of Saddam Hussein." That, too, was symbolic, because U.S. troops are scheduled to leave Iraq next year, feeling their work is done.
While the UN and world leaders seem to have great faith in Iraq's ability to become self-governing, there is still trepidation within the country. It isn't a walk in the park.
"The mission is not easy, and it may be affected by some danger and challenges," Ayad Allawi, leader of the Sunni coalition, admitted earlier this week. "But we can say that these challenges can be broken with the strength of the political consensus and harmony that the political parties have achieved."
This is an unprecedented alliance, and some of the most important positions in cabinet won't be filled until well into the new year. But it's an encouraging start, and al-Maliki, who became prime minister in 2006 simply because he was considered the best "compromise" candidate, has already overcome great obstacles on the road to building a democratic Iraq.
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