As soon as the government was established, a power struggle quickly began between Qasim, an Iraqi nationalist who was supported by the Iraqi Communist Party, and Abdul Salam Arif, an Arab nationalist.
Setelah pemerintahan didirikan, sebuah perebutan kekuasaan dengan cepat dimulai antara Qasim, seorang nasionalis Irak yang mendukung Partai Komunis Irak, dan Abdul Salam Arif, seorang nasionalis Arab.