Inflation of money and illegitimate gain.. Referring officials and officers to the judiciary on charges of corruption

Baghdad – The Integrity Commission announced, on Tuesday, the referral of dozens of files about inflated funds and illegitimate earnings to various positions ranging from minister, general manager, and officers in the army and internal security forces.

The Director-General of the Prevention Department, Ali Qassem, said, in an interview with the official newspaper, followed by “Nas”, (August 10, 2021): “The most prominent achievements that the authority has achieved through the Prevention Department since the implementation of the first amendment to the Law of the Integrity Commission and its entry into force are referring (30) files to the Investigation Department.” About inflating money and illegal gain for various job grades ranging from (minister), (general director), (army officers and internal security forces) and high ranks (judge), in addition to other job grades.

He stressed, “the issuance of final court rulings in some of them, as the result of one of the cases was the issuance of a judicial decision to recover the value of illegal gain amounting to 17 million dollars to the state,” noting that “some cases are still under investigation in the judiciary, as well as some files are under investigation.” The achievement is by the Prevention Department, and it will be referred to the judiciary and announced soon.”

He added, “This year witnessed an increase in the number of officials who disclosed their financial liabilities as a result of the provisions contained in the first amendment to the Law of the Integrity and Illicit Gain No. 30 of 2011, as it had a significant impact on increasing the number of respondents to disclose their financial liabilities, when This law included deterrent measures and criminal penalties against those who refrain from disclosing their financial liabilities, as well as those who deliberately conceal and not disclose some information about their movable and immovable funds, as the number of respondents increased at a high rate as soon as the law was published in the Iraqi Gazette and entered into force.

Qassem revealed the parties that the Department of Prevention can seek help and coordinate with to investigate the funds of the taxpayers, noting that it “uses and coordinates with most of the relevant authorities in the field of investigation and investigation of money inflation and illegitimate gain, including the Ministry of Interior and its departments and the ministries of Finance, Justice, Industry and Agriculture, as well as the The Central Bank of Iraq and many other destinations.

Nasnews.com

More than 60 teams follow up on the projects of the White Paper.. This is what a government advisor revealed

Advisor to the Prime Minister, Executive Director of the Reform Cell, Alaa Abdul-Hussein Al-Saadi, confirmed today, Friday, that all projects of the White Paper will be launched at one pace according to the specified time limits, while pointing out that 64 teams have been formed to follow up on the implementation of projects.

Al-Saadi said, to the official news agency, that “the governance mechanisms for implementing the white paper include time ranges that divide projects into programs. and objectives contained in the white paper.

On the most prominent challenges facing reform efforts in the field of combating financial and administrative corruption, and in response to those concerned and those opposed to the White Paper projects, Al-Saadi explained, “Any change that occurs is always accompanied by opponents, and there is a kind of fear and opposition, but the government’s goal is to deliver a message aimed at improving performance.” The government in the field of financial management, the economy in general, and the implementation of projects, which leads to simplifying procedures for investors and the general public, and thus eliminating red tape, which will subsequently lead to the elimination of corruption.

He stressed, “The government’s priorities in implementing projects are many and large, and all programs will be launched at one pace according to the specified timescales,” noting that “the white paper includes 64 projects, and 64 teams have been formed so that there is a team for each project that is launched according to the pre-established plan.” He pointed out that “the Reform Department cell began its follow-up to the implementation of the white paper by communicating with all the main and supportive executive bodies for the implementation of projects, facilitating the procedures for the implementation process and preparing them, and making the various parties understand the mechanisms for their implementation,” noting that “the preparation process will be relatively long, but it is important for proper implementation.” for programmes.

On August 2, the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, announced the start of implementing the administrative and executive mechanisms of the economic reform plan within the white paper.

Mawazin.net

Iraq knocks on the door of the IMF, requesting a loan of up to 4 billion dollars

The Ministry of Finance has started the draft budget for 2022, assuming the oil price is at $50 per barrel

Iraqi Finance Minister Ali Allawi said yesterday, Thursday, that Iraq recently resumed its talks with the International Monetary Fund to obtain a loan of between 3 and 4 billion dollars, after earlier halting such efforts to secure liquidity.

Talks between the International Monetary Fund and Iraq began last year, amid the pandemic-related demand shock that caused oil prices to fall, but the discussions were postponed as energy markets and the country’s foreign exchange reserves recovered. The government is now proactively looking forward to help cover its budget deficit.

“I don’t think we will reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund before the end of this year,” Allawi told reporters in Baghdad. “With the October 10 national elections approaching, the government and parliament will be sidelined.”

The Ministry of Finance started the draft budget 2022 with the assumption of the oil price at $ 50 a barrel, considering that this level is not fixed.

The Iraqi Minister of Finance announced that the 2022 budget, which the ministry began preparing a few days ago, will have a reform dimension, as it “different from previous budgets” and reflects “the reality of Iraq’s obligations.”

He explained that the ministry will seek to submit this new budget to Parliament before the early parliamentary elections scheduled for October, adding that it will be a “reform budget, but it may be politically difficult.”

The minister is likely hinting at the difficulty of passing the new budget due to the high value of the deficit in it, as happened in the previous budget. In the proposed 2021 budget bill, which the government submitted to Parliament, the value of the deficit was estimated at 49 billion dollars. However, the deputies made up the difference by canceling debts and dues from the state, especially dues for Iranian gas and energy, and other payments for infrastructure.

The value of the deficit in the 2021 budget, as approved by Parliament, amounted to $19.8 billion, compared to $23.1 billion in 2019, knowing that Iraq did not approve the 2020 budget due to political tension.

The total value of revenues in the 2021 budget amounted to about 69.9 billion dollars, calculated based on the export of crude oil on the basis of a price of 45 dollars per barrel, and an export rate of 3 million and 250 thousand barrels per day. As for the value of the 2021 budget, it amounted to $89.7 billion, about 30% lower than the last budget approved in 2019.

The Minister of Finance explained that the price of a barrel in the new budget will be 50 dollars, which is an adjustable figure. However, the value of a barrel of oil in the market is currently much higher.

Iraq, the second largest oil producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, is going through its worst economic crisis. The poverty rate in the country has doubled during the year 2020, and 40% of the population of 40 million is classified as poor according to the World Bank, while the Iraqi dinar has lost 25% of its value.

Corruption, which has cost Iraq twice as much as its gross domestic product, or more than $450 billion, is the main concern of Iraqis who suffer from a lack of electricity, hospitals and schools.

However, the minister said that Iraq’s financial situation has improved this year due to “the rise in the price of oil and the change in the exchange rate of the dinar.”

With regard to oil, Allawi believes that the current price levels are good for producers and balanced for consumers. Looking ahead, he predicts that the next battle in OPEC will not be over prices, but over who exports more, and if all members boost exports, prices will surely suffer.

The minister lamented ExxonMobil ‘s withdrawal from the country’s energy projects, but said he agreed that the company should stick to its policies.

Iraq is expected to sign an agreement with Total Energies SE before the current government’s mandate expires, although the completion of the contract may extend to the next administration, according to Allawi.

On July 25, the Iraqi Council of Ministers agreed to award Total Energies SE a contract to develop a natural gas field, allowing it to help boost oil production in the country. The French energy company aims to collect and process 600 million standard cubic feet of gas per day from the Ratawi field, according to the government.

As for the agreement that Iraq signed with Lebanon last month to export one million tons of heavy fuel oil annually – the price of which is paid through services and goods – Allawi said that Iraq will look to benefit from the Lebanese expertise in the fields of banking, education and tourism.

Alarabiya.net

PARLIAMENTARY ECONOMY: ABSENCE OF ALL JUSTIFICATIONS FOR RAISING THE PRICE OF THE DOLLAR

Baghdad / National News Center – A member of the Parliamentary Economy Committee, Mazen Al-Faili, confirmed today, Wednesday, that there are no justifications for raising the dollar exchange rate, while the Finance and Central Bank demanded a return to the previous rate.

Al-Faili said, in a statement received by the “National News Center”, that “it is no secret to any follower that the decision to raise the exchange rate of the dollar has negatively and significantly affected citizens in the various layers of poor and fragile society, employees, and even traders and contractors.”

He added: “We believe that the justifications given by the government are unrealistic and unstudied for the following reasons:

1- The rise in oil prices in global markets, which contributed to a significant increase in the financial returns to the state treasury, which negates the need to raise the exchange rate of the dollar.

2- The average dollar sale in the Central Bank’s sales window has increased relatively, which means that raising the exchange rate did not stop the depletion of hard currency and money laundering operations, as the government claimed, as the data shows, for example, that Iraq sold in July 2020 an average of 183 million dollars per day in When he sold in July 2021 an average of 210 million dollars, which shows an increase in the quantities of dollars sold, which means the futility of raising the exchange rate.

3- OPEC’s decision to increase Iraq’s share of selling oil in world markets by 150,000 barrels per day, equivalent to (300) million dollars per month.

4 – What some justify raising the exchange rate for the purpose of supporting the local product is contradicted by the decisions that granted Jordan exemptions from customs duties for hundreds of materials and the sale of oil at a low price, as well as the absence of infrastructure for national industries and many raw materials imported from abroad in dollars, thus raising the cost of production and weakening its competitiveness with Similar imported product.

5- After more than eight months have passed since the exchange rate was raised, we wonder what the financial savings that occurred as a result of the exchange rate increase have been achieved. What was achieved by raising the exchange rate also leaked into the pockets of the corrupt!”

He continued, “The points we mentioned clearly indicate that there is no need to raise the dollar exchange rate, so we stress the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of the need to restore the exchange rate to what it was previously and not to invoke justifications that do not withstand the data and data that we have indicated.”

Nnciraq.com

The Central Bank invites exchange companies regarding the banned names

Baghdad – Mawazine News: The Central Bank of Iraq called on exchange companies to follow up on the names of persons and companies banned as a result of money laundering and terrorism crimes.

The bank said in a statement that Mawazine News received a copy of it, that it “would like to emphasize the money laundering and terrorist financing controls of companies brokering the sale and purchase of foreign currencies, which stipulated the need for companies to follow up on the banned names received from the official authorities concerned with this.”

The Central Bank called on exchange companies to “own an electronic system that includes the daily movements of their activities, with the need to link this system with the international and local deprivation lists, which are supervised by the Central Bank of Iraq.” Ended 29/A 4

Mawazin.net

“The dinar exchange rate” enters the electoral fray in Iraq

The exchange rate of the income of the dinar Iraqi in the election campaign for many of the actors involved in the entitlement of the Iraqi parliament, as affects a large segment of the Iraqi people that have been affected by the reduced value of the end of last year.

It seems that the lists participating in the elections’ lack of files of achievements to speak to the public, which are expected to boycott a large segment of the elections, made them jump to topics that tickle the feelings of simple people and people with limited income, such as returning the Iraqi dinar exchange rate to what it was before the end of last year, Although it is difficult and perhaps impossible to achieve this within the next few years.
Issued Bank CBI on December 20 (December) 2020, a decision to reduce the value of the Iraqi dinar against the dollar , the US guarantees to sell it through the phases, the first purchase of the dollar from the Ministry of Finance B1450 dinars to sell the central bank of banks B1460 dinars and then to citizens B1470 dinars.

The previous price of the dollar was sold by the Central Bank at a price of 1180 dinars, and then it is sold in the Iraqi markets at a price exceeding 1200 dinars.

Shiite propaganda

The Shiite lists participating in the elections clearly used the issue of the exchange of the Iraqi dinar in the electoral campaign. The leader of the “Al-Fateh” list, Hadi al-Amiri, confirmed in a speech during the electoral announcement conference of his alliance, his quest to re-exchange the dollar raised by the government and the Central Bank, and to provide job opportunities.

The same positions were adopted by the leader of the “Coalition of State of Law” Nuri al-Maliki, the former Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, the “Islamic Virtue” party and some Shiite figures participating in the elections.

However, Shiite political blocs that were and still call for changing the exchange rate by returning it to its previous state, they denied that the purpose of their demands to change the exchange rate is electoral.

The representative of the “State of Law”, Kata Al-Rikabi, denied that his demand to change the exchange rate was part of the electoral slogan, explaining that his bloc demanded a change in the exchange rate months ago and during the vote on the budget.

Al-Rikabi added, “Our demand to change the exchange rate is not an electoral slogan, and we put forward our opinion and abstained from voting on the 2021 budget for this reason, and therefore our opinion is not part of the electoral race, because we do not make the Iraqi citizen a game between the conflicting parties.”

He points out that when the dollar exchange rate was raised, the “state of law” opinion was that the price “is not commensurate with the Iraqi citizen and is against the poor and the class below the poverty line, and it is our humanitarian and national duty to maintain this position and work to return the previous price.”

Able to change it

On the other hand, the representative of the Al-Fateh Alliance, Muhammad Al-Baldawi, believes that the coalition’s demand to change the exchange rate is not an electoral slogan, and he will work to change it, and that he was previously opposed to raising the exchange rate of the dollar.

Al-Baldawi added, “Many companies and contractors stopped their work as a result of the high exchange rate, which led to large losses, in addition to the fact that raising the exchange rate harmed the simple Iraqi citizen.”

He explained, “We are working to change the exchange rate in the future, and we have a vision on the matter and we have submitted proposals to the government, and the latter has a vision and we respect all visions, but we believe that the citizen should not bear the tax of wrong policies, and thus we will work after the formation of the new government, and we will present our vision to it to adjust the exchange rate.”

Gradual reduction in the future

In a related context, Ali Al-Lami, a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Economy and Investment, believes that the slogan of some political blocs regarding returning the exchange rate to its previous position falls into the door of the electoral conflict, suggesting that there will be a gradual future reduction.

Al-Lami added, “Some political blocs proposed working to return the exchange rate to its previous position as part of electoral propaganda, especially since those parties tried during months to return the exchange rate to its previous status, but they were unable, and therefore I do not expect it to change in the next stage.”

Shiite blocs, especially those loyal to Iran, put pressure on the government and the rest of the political blocs to return the Iraqi dinar exchange rate to its previous state, before it was reduced at the end of last year, taking advantage of the rise in food prices to obstruct the approval of the budget and threaten the Central Bank of Iraq and the government, and the spread in February (February) The “Hezbollah Brigades” militants in the capital, Baghdad, whose first goal was to comply with the demand of the Shiite forces.

However, these attempts failed to force the Iraqi parliament and the Central Bank of Iraq to change the new exchange rate, which was passed in the country’s general budget approved on March 31 of this year.

Central bank authority

Al-Lami explains that Parliament does not have the authority to raise or lower the exchange rate, because it is within the authority of the Central Bank, and that Parliament does not have the authority to take this decision, noting that the House of Representatives wanted not to raise the exchange rate by this size, but rather gradually and to be accompanied by some measures taken by the government, especially in supporting the weak and low-income classes.

A member of the Parliamentary Economy Committee believes that there will be a gradual reduction in the exchange rate in the event that pressure on the Prime Minister or the Central Bank is increased by the political blocs, although the “Central” confirms that the rise is beneficial to the country’s economy.

It is constantly needed

In turn, the economic affairs specialist, Safwan Qusay, indicates that there is a need to continue at the current exchange rate, to provide good reserves of the dollar in the treasury of the Central Bank.

He adds that “if the Ministry of Finance finds that there is a surplus in revenues, it can support the Iraqi dinar in 2022, and that the support be gradual so that the reduction is according to a certain scale, and not a significant decrease,” noting that the government can reconsider salaries and social welfare expenses. Including reducing damage to the fragile layers.

Qusay continues that it is the Ministry of Finance that announces its capabilities to support the dinar or cover the fragile classes, and it is the one who determines the exchange rate, and members of Parliament do not have the decision as it is a financial measure and therefore they should not interfere in this matter, considering that the aim of these statements is to give an impression to the voter Al-Iraqi, that if elected, the exchange rate will be lowered.

He points out that strengthening the Iraqi dinar again means continuing to withdraw the central bank’s reserves, which leads to the weakness of its reserves, noting that any future decision in the reduction must be according to a gradual, studied ladder without confusing the market.

It is unlikely that the dollar exchange rate will be changed to less than 1460 dinars per dollar, explaining that the citizen’s purchasing power decreased, which was reflected in the sales of the Central Bank, and this is what the government bet on, i.e. a decrease in demand for hard currency, which contributes to compensating for the decrease in reserves.

80 billion reassuring reserves

Qusay continues that when Iraq’s reserves reach a reassuring level of 80 billion dollars in the coming period, then there may be a contribution from the central bank and the transfer of reserves into initiatives through the housing initiative, stressing that it is this monetary policy that corrects the exchange rate strike.

Iraq reserves 63 billion dollars

Iraq’s cash reserves of the dollar amount to about 63 billion dollars, after it was about 50 billion dollars at the end of 2020, which represented its lowest level in a decade, as it decreased from 90 billion dollars in early 2020 after a series of internal loans to the Iraqi government from the Central Bank And government and private banks, to cover salaries and expenses after the decline in oil prices, and it is dedicated to securing Iraq’s imports, as well as a cover for the local currency issued in the same year.

It’s hard to change it

The head of an institution specialized in economic studies, Manar Al-Obaidi, says that the independent policy of the Central Bank makes it difficult to respond to political pressures that seek to reduce the exchange rate of the dollar.

“Changing the exchange rate significantly will cause confusion in the Iraqi market,” he added, pointing out that the central bank’s policy is independent and does not follow electoral conflicts, and that politicians’ talk about the reduction is aimed at winning voters.
He asserts that the House of Representatives does not have the right to take the decision to reduce, but it is possible to question the governor of the Central Bank or dismiss him.

Currency smuggling continues

Regarding the control of currency smuggling, Al-Obaidi confirms that government figures show that there is a large smuggling of currency, and the Central Bank has not succeeded in reducing it, and the volume of remittances shows that it reaches the limits of 40 billion dollars, at a time when the volume of imports is 15 billion, which indicates A difference of $25 billion.

Despite the rise in the exchange rate of the dollar against the dinar, the Central Bank of Iraq’s dollar sales rose unexpectedly last July, as more than four billion dollars were sold, and the bank sold in five sessions before and after the Eid holiday about 200 million dollars in One session, in an indication of the return of the increasing demand for currency, which some interpret as most of it as part of currency smuggling out of the country.

The devaluation of the Iraqi currency is one of the most important conditions for international financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, to support Iraq in 2021, as well as reforming the ration card system, lifting subsidies on fuel prices, and reducing the Iraqi government’s expenditures and the general salary rate in the country.

With the exception of the devaluation of the Iraqi currency and the start of reforms in the ration card system, the rest of the files were not moved due to the extensive political pressures on the Iraqi government to prevent it from implementing them, especially the reform of wages and salaries laws because they affect basic electoral segments of most Iraqi political parties.

Independentarabia.com

Tender for supplying the Central Bank of Iraq with paper currency packages tapes

The numbered tender ( 1 / 2021 and repeated for the third time ) for the supply of the Central Bank of Iraq with paper currency packages.

The Central Bank of Iraq invites officially approved companies and offices with experience, competence and qualifications to participate in a tender to supply it with (2,500) reels of paper currency bundle tapes according to the technical specifications and legal conditions prepared by this bank.

The Iraqi Central Bank / located in Baghdad – Al-Rasheed Street – Building No. (2) Floor (3) Legal Department / Contracts Department for the purpose of obtaining tender documents for an amount of (100,000) dinars (one hundred thousand dinars) that is not refundable and the closing date of the tender will be before the end of the tender Official working hours for Tuesday, 08/24/2021.

Cbi.iq

Al-Kazemi announces the launch of the economic reform plan within the white paper

Shafaq News/ Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi chaired the meeting of the Supreme Committee for Reform in Iraq.

Al-Kazemi said, according to a statement by his office, “Since we launched the reform white paper to address the rampant corruption in the country and we have been working to create an appropriate atmosphere for its implementation, and our meeting today is to announce the start of implementing the administrative and executive mechanisms for the economic reform plan within the white paper.”

He added, “We strongly aspire to restore the country’s economy to its strength after the situation reached very low levels as a result of rampant corruption. This plan would rebuild the Iraqi economy in a sound manner that would achieve sustainable development for the country.”

And Al-Kazemi continued during the meeting, “The reform plan will provide a solution to the chronic economic management crisis, which is represented by complete dependence on oil, and the lack of diversification of income sources. A comprehensive reform until it is completed within 5 years.

And he indicated that “the damage to the Iraqi economy is very great, and for this reason it is impossible to implement the reform plan in a short time, and everyone who promises to do so is delusional. Our goal is to advance the Iraqi state, not the current government. Governments go and the state remains, and for this we want with all our insistence.” To restore Iraq’s economic prestige.”

Al-Kazemi said, “Since we took over the administration of the executive authority of Iraq, we have been working hard to implement reforms in order to get out with the least losses for all of us. The future of our children is more important than anything, they are the builders of Iraq, and they are the ones who will lead it, so let’s leave our interests and think about our children.”

In October 2020, Al-Kazemi launched what is known as the “white paper”, which extends over 100 pages, which is a “project for a solution to the chronic economic management crisis, complete dependence on oil and the lack of diversification of sources of income.”

Shafaq.com

Deputy: Returning the dollar exchange rate to its previous price is a popular demand

Baghdad – Mawazine News: Independent MP Mansour Al-Baiji stressed, on Monday, that restoring the exchange rate of the dollar against the dinar to its previous price is a popular demand by all the people, and we will work to return it to its previous price during the next stage and as soon as possible.

Al-Baiji said, in a statement received by Mawazine News, a copy of it, that raising the dollar exchange harmed a large segment of the Iraqi people, and this matter could not continue, given that those affected by it are a large segment and this matter cannot continue, indicating that he will work to put pressure on the parties. The competent authority accompanied the decision in order to return it to its previous price.

Al-Baiji said that the decision to return the dollar exchange rate to its previous rate is inevitable and cannot be tolerated or accepted to continue with this rise because it burned the local markets in the country and that a large segment of the people affected by it must be reversed and returned to its previous price as soon as possible, adding that this One of our priorities during the next stage, and we will not allow this matter to continue for a long time in the service of our people who have been affected by this rise.

He concluded that the need has ended if it was a pretext taken by the competent authorities to raise the exchange rate after the world oil prices recovered, so the exchange rate of the dollar against the dinar must be reduced and fairness to our people who have suffered a lot in this rise and they are powerless and therefore we do not allow or accept this matter to continue It will be a long time and it will be a priority for all national representatives to do justice to their people, even if it is late. Ended 29/R77

Mawazin.net

The Kurdistan Region and America are discussing addressing the security voids

Shafaq News/ The Vice President of Kurdistan Region, Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa, and the US forces operations officer in Iraq, Colonel Michael Cullinan, discussed, on Monday, the latest results of the strategic dialogue between Iraq and America, the complexities and movements of ISIS in the region, the military operations of the army and the Peshmerga, and addressing the security gaps.

A statement by the region’s presidency, received by Shafaq News Agency, said that Sheikh Mustafa received the US forces’ operations officer in Iraq, Colonel Michael Cullinan, and his advisor, Peter Blades.

The statement said that the two sides discussed the latest results of the strategic dialogue between Iraq and America, the complexities and movements of ISIS in the region, the military operations of the army and the Peshmerga, the continuation of logistical assistance to the Peshmerga, reform, the unification of the Peshmerga, and addressing the conditions of areas in which there is a security vacuum.

The statement added that Sheikh Mustafa thanked the US forces and the international coalition against ISIS, and the cooperation and US military logistical assistance to the Peshmerga, and its high price, stressing the continuation of the joint operations of the Peshmerga and the Iraqi army with the support of the coalition to eliminate terrorists in the region.

The statement stated that Colonel Cullinan reiterated that his country will continue to cooperate and protect the region from any dangers that beset it, referring to the importance of the strategic dialogue between Iraq and America with the participation of the Kurdistan Region and expressed his pleasure to develop relations in the economic and military fields.

The statement indicated that the two sides were in agreement on coordination and greater desire for relations between America and the Kurdistan Region, and stressed the importance of unifying and reforming the Peshmerga forces and building a national united force, as well as filling the security voids in the regions. Larger.

Shafaq.com