The new governorate councils face a difficult test

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[size=52]The new governorate councils face a difficult test[/size]

[size=45]After a 10-year hiatus, Iraqis are awaiting the return of the provincial councils to work after selecting their members in the elections that took place on December 18, amid fears of a repeat of the experience of previous sessions that failed to provide the services concerned, but rather were part of corruption, deals, and quotas, according to Monitors.[/size]
[size=45]The governorate councils are the legislative and supervisory authority in each governorate, and these elected councils have the right to issue local legislation, enabling them to manage their affairs in accordance with the principle of administrative decentralization, without conflicting with the constitution and federal laws that fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the authorities.[/size]
[size=45]The electoral cycle for the governorate councils extends for 4 years, starting with its first session. Each governorate council consists of 10 members, in addition to one seat for every 200,000 people for more than one million people, according to the latest population census through which the voter registry was compiled.[/size]
[size=45]Under the supervision of Parliament[/size]
[size=45]Provincial councils are considered government agencies, and members of the House of Representatives have the right to monitor, audit, and hold accountable the work of the provincial councils and all state institutions, within what the law allows as a supervisory and legislative body, according to the representative of the State of Law coalition, Arif Al-Hamami.[/size]
[size=45]Al-Hamami asserts, “Many governorates suffer from a low level of services, so the governorate councils must change this reality and improve the selection of the governor and directors of administrative units and departments, and have complete control and authority over the work of the governor.”[/size]
[size=45]For his part, the leader of the Taqaddam Alliance, Anwar Al-Alwani, says, “The citizen hopes that these councils - after they have been suspended for more than 10 years and the governors were singled out for work - will be service-based and not partisan, dominated by the heads of blocs and parties.”[/size]
[size=45]Alwani adds, “Some governorates suffer from poor services, so it is necessary for members of the provincial councils to get out of the parties’ control, monitor the work of the governors, listen to the citizen, and put the public interest ahead of the parties’ interest.”[/size]
[size=45]In this context, the political analyst, Kitab Al-Mizan, warns that “the governorate councils will enjoy a two-year budget, unlike previous sessions, so there will be large funds allocated to these governorates, but what raises concerns, based on previous experiences, is that the greater the amount of money, the more there will be corruption.” More, and as a result, failure to provide services.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Mizan continues his speech, “Also, the country does not live in an ideal system, but rather in a system that is marred by many observations, from corruption files, deals, and quotas, so quotas will exist.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, “But there are ambitions for the experience of the new governorate councils to be unique, and to establish a real vision or project in the governorates to advance the service reality, exploit these budgets in the correct way to serve the citizens, and activate the supervisory role by monitoring and auditing these funds and projects.”[/size]
[size=45]Break the stereotype[/size]
[size=45]For his part, political analyst, Hamid Al-Hilali, points out that “there is a stereotypical image of provincial councils that is difficult to remove except with an exceptional effort, because these councils are viewed as an extra link, and interacting with that will be difficult.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Hilali asserts that “elected members must change this stereotypical image in people’s minds, through continuous work and staying away from privileges, concessions, and quotas. Their first goal should be service, as it is what will bring them closer to the citizen.”[/size]
[size=45]He explains, “The governors of Karbala, Basra, and Wasit succeeded and achieved record numbers because of their service provision, not just promises. Therefore, the councils are required to increase work and devote their efforts to providing distinguished service to citizens, and abandoning the previous characteristic that characterized the provincial councils of seeking privileges and appointments and interfering in the affairs of Ministries and others.[/size]
[size=45]The preliminary results of the Iraqi provincial council elections showed that the Taqadum Party, led by Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi, won the highest votes in the capital, Baghdad, while the “Nabni” coalition led by Hadi al-Amiri and the State of Law coalition led by Nouri al-Maliki topped the most prominent results.[/size]
[size=45]On Wednesday of last week, the Coordination Framework announced the formation of the Coordination Framework Bloc in all governorates to accelerate the formation of local councils to provide services in continuation and completion of the efforts of the federal government that distinguished itself throughout the past year.[/size]
[size=45]Together, the Coordination Framework parties won at least 101 seats out of 285 seats available in the provincial council elections held last week, giving them the largest share among the rest of the lists.[/size]
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