Western opinion: a “fatal” political blow to Al-Sadr in Iraq

Shafaq News / The American newspaper “Washington Post” sheds light on the Iraqi issue, in light of the election of the Iraqi parliament as a new president who immediately ordered the formation of a government, after a full year of political paralysis in the country after the parliamentary elections last October.

This came after Abdul Latif Rashid, a veteran Kurdish politician and former water minister, won the second round of voting for outgoing President Barham Salih. He quickly appointed Muhammad al-Sudani as prime minister, giving him 30 days to form a government.

Al-Sudani, 52, is part of the largest Shiite bloc in parliament and is a close ally of former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

The newspaper said that Iraq has been witnessing a political crisis since last year, amid hostility between the Sadrist movement, led by prominent cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, and the “Coordination Framework”, an alliance that includes al-Maliki’s party and other Shiite factions more closely linked to Iran.

The Iraqi presidency, traditionally held by a Kurd, is a largely ceremonial position, but the vote for Rashid, 78, was a major step toward forming a new government, which politicians have failed to do since the election.

The dispute, which prevented the election of a president or the formation of a government, escalated in July as supporters of the two sides took to the streets and inaugurated competing sit-ins in central Baghdad, sparking memories of the civil war.

In this regard, the newspaper quoted Muhammad Jassim, an Iraqi political analyst residing in Baghdad, as saying: “I think what happened today is a fatal blow to Muqtada al-Sadr politically. With the victory of the members of the coordination framework over Muqtada al-Sadr, the way is completely paved for them to pass their candidate (the prime minister). ) and government formation.

Jassim considered that the victory of the “coordinating framework” is also a victory for Iran and a setback for US interests in the region. He added: “They will do everything in their power to eliminate any American presence in the country and put obstacles in the way of any economic cooperation with the United States…all for the benefit of Iran.”

For its part, the British newspaper “Financial Times” quoted analysts warning that the victory of the Iranian-backed coalition would be a setback for Washington, which has been tacitly supporting a government led by al-Sadr.

And the newspaper said, in a report, that Al-Sudani’s supporters claim that his proven record in local and federal government means that he can form an efficient government capable of tackling some of the problems of oil-rich Iraq, foremost among which is rampant corruption and dilapidated public infrastructure. On the other hand, she added, others warn that Al-Sudani’s candidacy is a “name only” breakthrough.

The newspaper quoted Renad Mansour, director of the Iraq Initiative at Chatham House, as saying that assigning Al-Sudani to form the government cannot address the deep political tensions in the country. He added: “It does not address the deep sense of alienation of the Iraqi people from the political elite,” criticizing the political system in Iraq.

Mansour continued, “Today it is heralded as a breakthrough in the deadlock. But we still see the same figures who have dominated the political scene since 2003, who have stifled reform and encouraged political corruption that harms Iraqis every day.”

Shafaq.com

In his first speech … Prime Ministerial candidate Muhammad Al-Sudani announces his intention to form a strong government

On Thursday, Prime Minister-designate Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani announced his intention to form a strong government, while indicating his quest to hold local and parliamentary elections.

Al-Sudani said in a televised speech, “Today, we were honored to receive the letter of our assignment to form the new Iraqi government from His Excellency President Abdul Latif Rashid, relying on God and the support of our people, who endured pain, and made the dearest blood, and the most precious sacrifices.”

He added, “It is a matter of pride that we stand up to this great responsibility, and continue to serve our people, perform our duty and pay the debts we have to Iraq and its proud people,” declaring “our full readiness to cooperate with all political forces and societal components, whether represented in Parliament or represented in Parliament. The national space, for the responsibility is jointly borne by all, from political forces, professional and sectoral organizations, elites, competencies and opinion leaders.

Al-Sudani stressed by saying, “We will not allow exclusion and marginalization in our policies, as disagreements have cracked state institutions and lost many opportunities for Iraqis in development, construction and reconstruction.” strengthening national unity, rejecting division, and erasing hate speech.”

He continued, “I will do my best to form a strong government that is determined to implement its goals and program through the synergy of political forces by nominating efficient, professional and honest personalities capable of carrying out their responsibilities,” stressing that “our people’s waiting for this important moment has taken a long time, and it has burdened them and their sons, and have increased their burdens. The middle and poor classes, which have been the most affected over the past years.

He pointed out that “our work will start from the first hours of assignment according to a realistic government program that adopts economic reforms aimed at revitalizing the industrial and agricultural sectors, supporting the private sector, diversifying sources of income, addressing environmental impacts, desertification, climate change, and protecting water resources.”

He pledged that “the service government is determined to close the outlets of corruption through strict laws and legislation, in cooperation with the legislative and judicial authorities,” noting that “fighting corruption will be at the forefront of the government’s priorities, and we call on everyone to assume responsibility and participate in a comprehensive national campaign in the fight against corruption.”

Al-Sudani indicated that “our vision is clear and our program is supportive of local governments to enable them to provide the best services to our citizens, implement their duties and meet the legitimate demands of our children, in addition to our commitment to work according to the constitution in strengthening the relationship between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government and settling disputes, since we are all Iraqis about outstanding issues. We hope for a life worthy of us and our civilization, in the shadow of a unified and stable Iraq.”

He stressed, “We will seek to hold local and parliamentary elections, in a free and fair atmosphere and in the light of a transparent electoral system that reassures all contestants,” adding, “It is time to restore the state’s prestige, impose respect for the law, and stop the deterioration and chaos in all its names and forms. It has the legitimate right to spread security, extend the law, and defend national sovereignty through its official military and security institutions, and we will work hard to create a safe environment for investment companies and diplomatic missions.

Burathanews.com

Deputy: The next government will cancel all Al-Kazemi agreements

Information / Baghdad..  The representative of the Al-Fateh Alliance, Mortada Ali Hammoud Al-Saadi, considered, on Thursday, the agreements concluded by Mustafa Al-Kazemi’s government after the date of October 9, 2021 as a violation of the law because it does not have constitutional powers.

Al-Saadi said in a statement to “Al-Maalouma”, that “all the agreements concluded by the Al-Kazemi government are useless and represent a drain on Iraq’s wealth.”

He added, “The agreements that Al-Kazemi concluded after the date of 9/10/2012 are outside the scope of his authority, since his government, by law, has resigned, and therefore any international agreement will be challenged.”

Al-Saadi indicated that “the next government will cancel all agreements and contracts concluded by the Al-Kazemi government, especially the agreements signed with poor countries such as Jordan.”

The legal expert, Jamal Al-Asadi, confirmed in a previous statement to Al-Maalouma that the next government is able to cancel most of the contracts made by the current caretaker government, considering it a full-fledged government. finished/ 25 h

Almaalomah.me

Will the “framework” government open the door to the “deep state” in Iraq?

In a television interview, Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, the candidate for the “coordinating framework” to head the Iraqi government, appeared ready for an adventure in a politically and security ambiguous moment. His statements he made clearly indicated that negotiating with Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the “Sadr movement”, was no longer a priority for his opponents in the Shiite parties.

Al-Sudani, on the evening of yesterday (Tuesday), made promises to “restrict weapons in the hands of the state,” to hold “whales of corruption” accountable, and not to hold the position for more than one term. The Coordination Framework”, which includes forces allied to Iran, is behind his candidacy.

During the interview, the Sadrist movement’s audience was circulating on their media platforms, which are often used for field mobilization, impressions described as dangerous about the outcome of a government led by the “framework”, most notably the talk that “the monopoly of financial and oil institutions is imminent by political groups.” tracking Iran.

Until the dawn of Wednesday, activists from the “Sadr movement” and the civil movement tried to pressure al-Sadr to end his political retreat and return to the scene, under the pretext of “preventing (the framework) from assuming power without a competitor.”

It is clear that the goal that Al-Sudani was looking for from the media appearance, even before he was actually assigned to form the government, was to calm the political parties, including Al-Sadr; That his government program will not be a revenge project, after 10 months of blockage, and it does not seem that he has succeeded in these endeavors so far. With the advent of Wednesday morning, the capital, Baghdad, seemed to be a scene of dismemberment to restrict protests against the “coordinating framework.”

Various information about the government formation path was filtered from the offices of the “coordinating framework”, which includes plans to control key positions, most notably the director of the prime minister’s office, the presidency of the intelligence and national security services, oil institutions and the “central bank”. “Deep” is a phrase used to describe the era of Nouri al-Maliki.

Thus, Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, for many in the Sadrist atmosphere, became a front for al-Maliki, who is still eager to return to the Cabinet Palace, and all he needs is a political figure that guarantees political calm and international and regional acceptance, while leaders in the “coordinating framework” are expanding in Governmental institutions.

The “coordinating framework”, according to Shiite leaders, needs a government that controls it, to limit the ambitions of al-Sadr and the forces of the civil current, in amending constitutional texts, and addressing the election law and the commission that the “framework” insists on changing before the elections are held; The Shiite parties will not participate in any voting round without legal guarantees to increase their seats in a different competitive atmosphere with al-Sadr.

In these complex calculations, it does not seem that the protest movement is able to gather its forces and restore the activity of October 2019; There are sharp polarizations between the forces of the movement, and the “framework” and “the current” played complex roles in exacerbating and strengthening them. Once the framework government is formed in the absence of al-Sadr, it is unlikely that the popular protest will be a force that changes the equation of governance and those in power in it.

Rawabetcenter.com

Al-Halbousi: There are negative comments on Al-Sudani, and no one in Iraq can bypass the Sadrist movement

Shafaq News / The Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Muhammad al-Halbousi, confirmed on Thursday that there were deliberately negative comments on the candidate for the coordination framework for the prime minister, Muhammad Shiaa al-Sudani, while indicating that no one in Iraq can bypass the Sadrist movement.

Al-Halbousi said in a television interview, followed by Shafak News Agency, that “negotiations on forming the new Iraqi government began a few days ago,” noting that he proposed “consensus on (Baghdad Document) as an initiative to resolve the political crisis.”

He added, “There are objections about how to choose the prime minister candidate. Al-Sudani represents the current of the Shiite component, and we have the right to object or accept.”

Al-Halbousi pointed out that “the parliament is the appropriate place to discuss political differences, and it was necessary for the parliament to return to work.”

Regarding the Alliance to Save the Homeland, which includes the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the Alliance of Sovereignty and the Sadrist bloc, the parliament speaker pointed out that “the tripartite alliance ended as soon as al-Sadr left the parliament, but relations continue, and there is a good relationship with the Kurdistan Democratic Party.”

Regarding submitting a request to Parliament to vote on his resignation from the presidency of the Council, Al-Halbousi noted that “it was a personal decision that does not bear any interpretations.”

Regarding the US support for Iraq, Al-Halbousi said, “The stability of Iraq is not a priority for the current US administration. The US support for Iraq in the past period is more media than realistic.”

Shafaq.com

Al-Halbousi: America’s support for Iraq is more media than realistic, and negotiations to form a government have begun

On Thursday evening, Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi described US support for Iraq as “media”, while announcing the start of negotiations to form a government.

Al-Halbousi said, in a televised statement, that: “My resignation was a personal decision that does not tolerate interpretations, and the tripartite alliance ended with the resignation of the Sadrist bloc from Parliament.”

He added, “Washington’s recent support for Iraq is more informational than realistic, and Iraq’s stability is not an American priority now, and there must be a ruling bloc and an opposition bloc in the country.”

Al-Halbousi indicated that “the candidate for the coordination framework for the prime minister, Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, has the right to object and support, and negotiations to form the government began a few days ago.”

He continued, “Our relations are good with the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and the parliament should return to carrying out its work and tasks,” calling on everyone to “start the dialogue without preconditions.”

Burathanews.com

Al-Halbousi: There are no negative comments on Al-Sudani, and no one in Iraq can bypass the Sadrist movement

Shafaq News / The Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Muhammad al-Halbousi, confirmed on Thursday that there were deliberately negative comments on the candidate for the coordination framework for the prime minister, Muhammad Shiaa al-Sudani, while indicating that no one in Iraq can bypass the Sadrist movement.

Al-Halbousi said in a television interview, followed by Shafak News Agency, that “negotiations on forming the new Iraqi government began a few days ago,” noting that he proposed “consensus on (Baghdad Document) as an initiative to resolve the political crisis.”

He added, “There are objections about how to choose the prime minister candidate. Al-Sudani represents the current of the Shiite component, and we have the right to object or accept.”

Al-Halbousi pointed out that “the parliament is the appropriate place to discuss political differences, and it was necessary for the parliament to return to work.”

Regarding the Alliance to Save the Homeland, which includes the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the Alliance of Sovereignty and the Sadrist bloc, the parliament speaker pointed out that “the tripartite alliance ended as soon as al-Sadr left the parliament, but relations continue, and there is a good relationship with the Kurdistan Democratic Party.”

Regarding submitting a request to Parliament to vote on his resignation from the presidency of the Council, Al-Halbousi noted that “it was a personal decision that does not bear any interpretations.”

Regarding the US support for Iraq, Al-Halbousi said, “The stability of Iraq is not a priority for the current US administration. The US support for Iraq in the past period is more media than realistic.”

Shafaq.com

An informed source: Al-Kazemi moved his private office to Baghdad International Airport

An informed source said that the outgoing Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, moved his private office from the Green Zone to Baghdad International Airport.

The source explained that Al-Kazemi moved his office with his advisors to the airport and began doing his work from there after returning from America, where he participated with the delegation of the United Nations General Assembly session

The source did not mention the reason for this strange action by Al-Kazemi, is it fear of arrest, assassination or escape after the formation of the new government!!!

Burathanews.com

An economist explains how to control the currency sale auction

The Information/Baghdad… The economic expert, Abdul Salam Hassan, explained that the currency sale auction can be controlled through the government’s move towards equalizing the value of the dinar with the dollar or making it close to the dinar, pointing to the difficulty of stopping this auction, especially with the presence of dominant parties on the scene.

Hassan told Al-Maalouma, “The currency auction cannot be stopped, and there is no law preventing its work, as it is supported by the World Bank, despite corruption and the parties’ control over it to achieve personal benefits.”

He added that “most countries work with currency auctions or the so-called economic colonialism, and countries take it for financial investment and a window to extract the currency, but the work of this auction in Iraq cannot be legalized or stopped under the pretext of continuing import, and this matter needs more currency.”

And he indicated that “the increase in the amounts of currency sale came as a result of the increase in the exchange rate of the dollar against the dinar, as it achieves greater benefit through the currency sale auction, and the government can control this matter and reduce the amounts sold in the auction by making the value of the dollar close to the dinar and thus the two values ​​are equal or may The difference is very simple.”

Almaalomah.me

The “second term”… is worried about Al-Sadr and loses the bet of the framework, and Biden “insults” its owner!

The Information/Baghdad… From betting on the support of the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, to trying to split the ranks of the coordination framework, the caretaker prime minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, is trying to obtain a glimmer of political hope that will lead to his staying in power as long as possible or renewing his term, but these attempts have become All of them break on the rock of political and popular rejection.

The latest attempts by Al-Kazemi and his media and Facebook team were to try to split the framework and promote the presence of parties within the coordination with the renewal of Al-Kazemi’s mandate, but soon the decisive response came from all its components with a unified “no” to any effort regarding the renewal of Al-Kazemi.

This political response from the largest political and parliamentary bloc coincides with the growing popular rejection and discontent as a result of the Al-Kazemi government’s policies, especially the economic ones, which led to stagnation and depression in the popular markets, harming the poor and middle class, increasing poverty and unemployment rates, and recording a percentage of extreme poverty, which is “famine” by withdrawing the Ministry planning.

And the representative of the framework, Muhammad Al-Shihoud, said in a statement to “The Information” that “whoever promotes to change the framework candidate, Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani, wants to keep the current political impasse open and bring the country into complex problems,” noting that “the framework agreement on his Sudanese candidate took time, so what about the duration? That will be spent in naming an alternative candidate, and this will lead us into a dark tunnel, and this is what the enemies of the political process desire.”

Chihod affirms that “the demands for Al-Kazemi’s survival did not succeed and will not succeed in the presence of the coordination framework as a larger bloc inside the parliament,” noting that “there is no one party from the forces of the coordination framework that has a desire for Al-Kazemi to remain for a second term because assuming the premiership is aware of the country’s going into the abyss.”

Apparently, Al-Kazemi’s last station in attempts to renew and gain support for the second term is the United States of America, which he intended to “under the pretext” of representing Iraq in the meetings of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, but it seems that those endeavors were aborted before they were born.

According to information obtained by the “information”, Al-Kazemi’s team is seeking to arrange a meeting with the outgoing Prime Minister and US President Joe Biden without any response from the latter.

Almaalomah.me