When Mustafa Al Kadhimi was [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] to serve as its 43rd Prime Minister in May, there was cautious optimism that he would be able to begin the process of restoring peace, stability and eventually prosperity in the country. He has since made many a bold statement and symbolic gesture to demonstrate to the world that he means business.
However, following [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] to hold early parliamentary elections on June 6, 2021, it has become evident that Mr Al Kadhimi needs a stronger mandate in order to break the political impasse that paralyses Baghdad, and to counter the foreign interference – particularly from Iran – that has stifled his attempts to enact sweeping reforms on multiple fronts. It is also important to point out that, as frustrating as the previous three months may have been for Mr Al Kadhimi’s government, the next nine are likely to be yet more testing. During this period, the Prime Minister has to deal with several medium-term challenges, including the resurgence of ISIS, the clout of Iranian-backed militia groups and the financial crisis Iraq finds itself in, due in large part to systemic corruption.
A former intelligence chief, Mr Al Kadhimi has already taken steps to build an anti-ISIS coalition. He has also shown a willingness to stand up to pro-Iranian forces both on the floor of Parliament as well as in the streets. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] to the Iraq-Iran border town of Mandali, which he called “a hotbed for corrupt people”, was the clearest signal to Tehran yet that its threat to Iraqi sovereignty – intrinsically linked to the corruption of Baghdad's political class – will not be tolerated.
Mr Al Kadhimi also recognises the urgency behind the months-long protests that erupted across the country in October which – despite ebbs and flows – have shown few signs of abating. Demonstrators have risked life, limb and the coronavirus pandemic to demand jobs, better living standards and greater transparency and accountability from government.
While the Prime Minister’s decision to advance the elections by almost a full year could be seen as a bold move, it is worth remembering that [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] when he took office was to guide the country towards early polls that would hopefully usher in new, fresh faces. Mr Al Kadhimi has even made a call to young Iraqis to stand in the upcoming elections.
Until now, independents have had little chance of success in elections dominated by political blocs with vast financial resources. Mr Al Kadhimi himself does not belong to a political party and had previously stated that he would not run in the elections.
By calling early polls, however, he will have met a key demand of the protesters – provided Parliament ratifies his decision.
After decades of living through dictatorship, war, terrorism, sectarian strife, institutional corruption and constant threats to their country’s sovereignty, it is clear that the Iraqi public have had enough of the political corruption and dysfunction that plague Baghdad. And although these troubles long precede Mr Al Kadhimi’s time in office, he will know that he has now inherited them and will, therefore, be held accountable.
With little ability at the moment to assuage some of the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], laying the groundwork for a stronger mandate to do so next year is an important step. In the meantime, he must continue to focus his efforts on preventing any further erosion of the integrity of the state and the rule of law. Baghdad risks being tipped into a state of total lawlessness, evidenced recently by the recent killing of one of Mr Al Kadhimi’s associates, security expert [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]. He must also ensure the safety and security of protesters, most of whom are ordinary Iraqis. A crucial part of this is seeing to it that justice is delivered against [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] – including Iranian-backed militias and Mr Al Kadhimi’s own government security forces – against protesters over the past months.
The forces undermining Iraqi stability, breeding fear and chipping away at national institutions, are as pervasive as they are insidious. But if the Prime Minister can preserve the state’s core institutions and make some key advancements along the way, then come election time he will have signalled to Iraqis that he is in control of his country’s destiny and can be relied on to do the top job. More importantly, he will have safeguarded the foundation needed for a stable and democratic Iraq over the long haul.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
However, following [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] to hold early parliamentary elections on June 6, 2021, it has become evident that Mr Al Kadhimi needs a stronger mandate in order to break the political impasse that paralyses Baghdad, and to counter the foreign interference – particularly from Iran – that has stifled his attempts to enact sweeping reforms on multiple fronts. It is also important to point out that, as frustrating as the previous three months may have been for Mr Al Kadhimi’s government, the next nine are likely to be yet more testing. During this period, the Prime Minister has to deal with several medium-term challenges, including the resurgence of ISIS, the clout of Iranian-backed militia groups and the financial crisis Iraq finds itself in, due in large part to systemic corruption.
A former intelligence chief, Mr Al Kadhimi has already taken steps to build an anti-ISIS coalition. He has also shown a willingness to stand up to pro-Iranian forces both on the floor of Parliament as well as in the streets. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] to the Iraq-Iran border town of Mandali, which he called “a hotbed for corrupt people”, was the clearest signal to Tehran yet that its threat to Iraqi sovereignty – intrinsically linked to the corruption of Baghdad's political class – will not be tolerated.
Mr Al Kadhimi also recognises the urgency behind the months-long protests that erupted across the country in October which – despite ebbs and flows – have shown few signs of abating. Demonstrators have risked life, limb and the coronavirus pandemic to demand jobs, better living standards and greater transparency and accountability from government.
While the Prime Minister’s decision to advance the elections by almost a full year could be seen as a bold move, it is worth remembering that [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] when he took office was to guide the country towards early polls that would hopefully usher in new, fresh faces. Mr Al Kadhimi has even made a call to young Iraqis to stand in the upcoming elections.
Until now, independents have had little chance of success in elections dominated by political blocs with vast financial resources. Mr Al Kadhimi himself does not belong to a political party and had previously stated that he would not run in the elections.
By calling early polls, however, he will have met a key demand of the protesters – provided Parliament ratifies his decision.
After decades of living through dictatorship, war, terrorism, sectarian strife, institutional corruption and constant threats to their country’s sovereignty, it is clear that the Iraqi public have had enough of the political corruption and dysfunction that plague Baghdad. And although these troubles long precede Mr Al Kadhimi’s time in office, he will know that he has now inherited them and will, therefore, be held accountable.
With little ability at the moment to assuage some of the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], laying the groundwork for a stronger mandate to do so next year is an important step. In the meantime, he must continue to focus his efforts on preventing any further erosion of the integrity of the state and the rule of law. Baghdad risks being tipped into a state of total lawlessness, evidenced recently by the recent killing of one of Mr Al Kadhimi’s associates, security expert [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]. He must also ensure the safety and security of protesters, most of whom are ordinary Iraqis. A crucial part of this is seeing to it that justice is delivered against [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] – including Iranian-backed militias and Mr Al Kadhimi’s own government security forces – against protesters over the past months.
The forces undermining Iraqi stability, breeding fear and chipping away at national institutions, are as pervasive as they are insidious. But if the Prime Minister can preserve the state’s core institutions and make some key advancements along the way, then come election time he will have signalled to Iraqis that he is in control of his country’s destiny and can be relied on to do the top job. More importantly, he will have safeguarded the foundation needed for a stable and democratic Iraq over the long haul.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Today at 5:16 am by Rocky
» Al-Badran: The reason for postponing the Basra Council session is to give members sufficient time to
Today at 5:14 am by Rocky
» The Contractors Registration and Classification Committee at the Ministry of Planning completed more
Today at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Foreign Affairs: We discussed these files with the Romanian Senate
Today at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Baghdad Investment Authority to / Nina /: We will adopt future programming to implement projects and
Today at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Their arms are "electronic flies"... Personalities who lost their positions seek to stir up strife b
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Decrease in dollar exchange rates in morning trading in Baghdad markets
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» An international organization: Plans to enhance the livelihood of affected displaced and returning f
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Dozens of factories are halted... Industry: We went into partnership with the private sector to rest
Today at 5:03 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Communist criticizes the decision to abolish the Kurdistan Parliament quota: positive disc
Today at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani confirms Iraq's aspiration for the participation of Azerbaijani companies in construction
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» An initiative by the President of the Republic to solve the problem of the region’s salaries
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» The Kurdistan government complains about Baghdad’s finances: It is ready to pay 59% of the salaries
Today at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Al-Khanjar: The Democratic boycott of the elections puts the future of Iraq in danger
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Iraq is ranked seventh in the Arab world and 33rd globally in the misery index
Today at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Trade announces the achievement of self-sufficiency in ration card materials
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Finance releases funding for state employees’ salaries for the month of March
Today at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Elon Musk: 20 seats won by Biden and his party with the votes of “illegal immigrants”
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» A "paradigm shift" awaits the regions of the belt and outskirts of Baghdad
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» “Speicher and Malwiya Fund”..Parliamentary Finance talks about “illegal fees” in state departments
Today at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Government admission of the failure of the meter campaign: Generators’ compliance is “almost non-exi
Today at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Iraq is proceeding with the zero nuclear reactor project.. Find out its details
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» The decision to “reduce exports”... “unplanned” production for Kurdistan will cost Baghdad half a bi
Today at 4:41 am by Rocky
» The powers of Kurdistan.. The Federal Court confirms its commitment to what was agreed upon by the “
Today at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Launching funding for state employees’ salaries for the month of March
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Iraq and Syria top the "least safe" Arab countries
Yesterday at 7:23 am by Rocky
» Governor of Baghdad: 20 projects will be included during the current year in the city of Nahrawan
Yesterday at 7:20 am by Rocky
» More than $242 million in central bank sales today
Yesterday at 7:17 am by Rocky
» Advisor: Sudanese is determined to close the displacement file
Yesterday at 7:14 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The implementation of the 2023 budget witnessed a success that must be invested in
Yesterday at 7:13 am by Rocky
» The Baghdad Council will decide on the nomination of the committees in the coming days
Yesterday at 7:10 am by Rocky
» Al-Samarrai: The Sunni community is not in favor of removing American forces
Yesterday at 7:08 am by Rocky
» A warning from Al-Rasheed to those wishing to apply for advances and loans
Yesterday at 7:06 am by Rocky
» Azerbaijan expresses its desire to participate in the implementation of joint projects in the oil an
Yesterday at 7:05 am by Rocky
» Fuel cards arouse citizens' discontent
Yesterday at 7:03 am by Rocky
» utube 3/18/24 MM&C Iraqi Dinar-- IQD-- Dinar Update -100% Electronic - Real Effective Exchange Rat
Yesterday at 5:21 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 3/16/24 0:05 / 18:16 Iraq Federal Court Brings - Strength to Financial - Politic
Yesterday at 5:18 am by Rocky
» MM&C 3/18/24 Sudanese Advisor: Iraq will leave government monetary dealing in mid-2024
Yesterday at 5:17 am by Rocky
» A delegation from the Kurdistan government visits Baghdad to discuss the issue of localization of sa
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» Director of the Central Oil Company: We are keen to provide the appropriate investment environment
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» The Energy Parliament calls for reporting generators violating government pricing
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» A representative reveals the fate of the laws of “previous sessions”
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Politician: Coordination holds the keys to resolving the “Parliament Presidency” conflict
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraq wants to carry out its peaceful activity in the field of atomic energy
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Including a minister and a parliamentarian... 38 arrest and recruitment orders were issued against t
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Integrity: Citizens’ cooperation resulted in detecting inflation and returning state funds
Yesterday at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Agriculture presents 97 projects to the Ministerial Council for the Economy
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: We succeeded in implementing the 2023 budget, and we must continue to complete economic p
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Labor adopts new mechanisms to reduce the phenomenon of begging
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Electronically.. directing the collection of fees tomorrow in an Iraqi governorate
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Held in Brussels.. Iraq receives an official invitation to attend the Nuclear Energy Summit
Yesterday at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan has been paralyzed. There has been no liquidity in hand for 50 days, and the truth has bee
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» The dollar continues to decline against the Iraqi dinar on the stock exchange and exchange offices
Yesterday at 4:52 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Oil reveals the reasons for Shell’s withdrawal from Nebras: It will be divided into
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» The Housing Fund advises loan applicants and launches a link for inquiries
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» He stressed that the government’s vision is to make one class not exceed 25 students...Government me
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Al-Hakim and Al-Halbousi stress the importance of choosing a speaker for Parliament in accordance wi
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Iron and Steel Company: Iraq is on the verge of a major industrial revolution
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Economists: Citizens still prefer cash transactions over electronic transactions
Yesterday at 4:45 am by Rocky
» The compass of Iraq's foreign policy in a world of turbulent polarization
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: The federal budget is in the corridors of the Council of Ministers, and there
Yesterday at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Integrity calls on citizens to report the inflation of funds in the sector of the Ministry of Labor
Yesterday at 4:40 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani directs the launch of initiatives for young businessmen and investors
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Representative agriculture emphasizes taking supportive measures for the local product
Yesterday at 4:37 am by Rocky
» An economist calls on the government to support and stimulate the private sector
Yesterday at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Al-Ittihad: Employees and retirees in Kurdistan paid the price of political differences with Baghdad
Yesterday at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Al-Samarrai and Al-Hakim discuss the importance of achieving political and constitutional entitlemen
Yesterday at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Only 23 million dunums. Iraq exploits approximately 50% of its arable land
Yesterday at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Türkiye considers it a political issue.. Where have the negotiations reached regarding Iraq’s water
Yesterday at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Sudanese receives an invitation to attend the Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels - Urgent
Yesterday at 4:27 am by Rocky
» Central Bank sales exceed $240 million today
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 6:52 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance calls on the government to expedite sending the 2024 budget to Parliament
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 6:47 am by Rocky
» ‘We’re So Sick of It’: Northern Border Crisis Gets Worse
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 6:35 am by Bama Diva
» A representative holds Kurdistan responsible for the faltering legislation of the oil and gas law
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:27 am by Rocky
» Warnings of the danger of the increase in foreign labor in Iraq
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:26 am by Rocky
» Iraq's oil exports to America decreased within a week
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:25 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani chairs an “important” meeting to form the Kirkuk government
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:23 am by Rocky
» Investment confirms the adoption of a new method in new residential cities and explains its details
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:21 am by Rocky
» For the first time in 2024.. exchange rates fall to the threshold of 149 thousand in Baghdad
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:19 am by Rocky
» Including gold.. An increase in exports of 3 Turkish products to Iraq during 2024
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:18 am by Rocky
» A detailed integrity report regarding the Housing Fund... called for this matter
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:17 am by Rocky
» Resources count the number of trespassers in Baghdad.. What about restaurants?
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:16 am by Rocky
» At a cost of approximately two billion dinars... determining the completion rates achieved in the Ma
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:15 am by Rocky
» Parliament awaits the “Cabinet of Ministers” law
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:14 am by Rocky
» Provincial councils return after an absence with a heavy legacy
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:13 am by Rocky
» Iraq is the axis and meeting point of East and West
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:11 am by Rocky
» One million beneficiaries of health insurance early next May
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:10 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: Delaying the budget had a negative impact on the performance of the ministrie
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:09 am by Rocky
» The chaos of urban expansion threatens the agricultural character of Diwaniyah
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:08 am by Rocky
» A project to plant Japanese trees in Erbil
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:07 am by Rocky
» A team to prepare the national strategy for national security in Kirkuk
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:06 am by Rocky
» Next Tuesday...concluding a contract to expand the basic design of the city of Mosul
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:04 am by Rocky
» A festival to reduce food prices in Mosul
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:03 am by Rocky
» Technical committees between Baghdad and Erbil to resume oil exports through Türkiye
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:02 am by Rocky
» A model of economic diversification
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:01 am by Rocky
» Variation in the extent to which Iraq was affected by the decision to reduce the credit rating of {T
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 5:00 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraq has made a commitment to receive the entire security file from the Ministry of Inter
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 4:58 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic stresses the important role of Mr. Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim in the first st
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 4:56 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Center for Combating Rumors warns against social media celebrities misleading their follow
Sun 17 Mar 2024, 4:54 am by Rocky