Looted funds and billion-dollar contracts: A battle of attrition between al-Zaydi and networks of influence
The discussion about suspicious contract deals and the corruption files surrounding them has resurfaced, with the ongoing debate about the possibility of opening these files and holding those involved accountable, in addition to the most important aspect of recovering public funds.
After repeated attempts by previous governments, most of which failed to stop the waste of public money through suspicious contracts and deals, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi stands out in confronting these thorny issues, amid speculation that they can be addressed and settled despite the large accumulation left by past years, as well as the acquisition of parts of these files by influential political entities and their influence on the investigation and follow-up processes.
In this context, MP Duha al-Sadkhan, from the National Approach bloc, affirmed in a statement to Al-Maalomah News Agency that any serious government initiative to combat corruption must encompass all state institutions without exception. She stressed the necessity of recovering stolen funds and holding those involved accountable under the law.
Al-Sadkhan stated that “exempting any entity from accountability procedures would weaken citizens’ confidence in the seriousness of anti-corruption efforts.” She emphasized that “the issue of political or partisan entities benefiting from certain contracts and tenders must be resolved through legal means, evidence, and the competent judicial authorities, not through accusations or political affiliations.”
Political analyst Talib Muhammad Karim explained in a statement to Al-Maalomah News Agency that any serious reform project will naturally clash with interests that have accumulated over many years within some parts of the state and the economy.
Karim said that the success of reform is not measured by the size of the clashes it faces, but by its ability to enforce the law and apply professional standards to everyone without exception, stressing the importance of giving the government sufficient space to work according to its program away from the pressures and political interventions that have disrupted many projects during the previous stages.
The arrest of Adnan al-Jumaili, the Deputy Minister of Oil for Refining Affairs and Director General of the North Refineries Company and Baiji Refinery, by a special force accompanied by a team from the Integrity Commission, was the first concrete step in opening investigations into previous contracts suspected of corruption, particularly after the seizure of large sums of money, real estate, and land in his possession. According to initial findings, judicial investigations revealed his involvement in widespread and serious corruption deals.
Almaalomah.me