Al-Sadr informs Iran and the leaders of the framework: either a government without al-Maliki or the opposition

Shafaq News / A leader in the Sadrist movement revealed today, Sunday, that the leader of the movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, delivered a message to Iran and the leaders of the coordination framework, regarding the formation of the next Iraqi government.

The leader, who asked not to be named, told Shafak News Agency, “Al-Sadr sent a message to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the leaders of the coordination framework, that the decision to prevent the leader of the State of Law coalition, Nuri al-Maliki, from participating in the new government, does not retreat from it, whatever pressures and threats against him.”

And he indicated that “Al-Sadr confirmed in his message that the Sadrist bloc is ready to go to the opposition, not to participate in a government that brings together the Sadrist movement with Maliki,” explaining that “at the same time, Iran and the framework do not want Al-Sadr to go to the opposition, they realize that this matter will not make the government age.” The new one lasts more than one year, which is why they want a consensual government that brings the current and the framework together,” as he put it.

The dispute is intensifying between the Sadrist bloc and the forces of the coordination framework, especially with the State of Law coalition and its leader, Nuri al-Maliki, as internal and regional mediations have failed to restore relations between the parties due to al-Sadr’s insistence on excluding al-Maliki from the political process.

Shafaq.com

An economist expects different scenarios for the dollar crisis

Today, the economist Nabil Al-Marsoumi predicted that people would dispense with their “dollar” savings and transfer them to the Iraqi dinar.

“It is expected that after the unexpected response from the Minister of Finance and the accompanying turmoil in the currency market, most people will give up their dollar savings and convert them to the Iraqi dinar,” Al-Marsoumi said in a clarification followed by NRT Arabia.

He explained that, “in light of the lack of confidence in the Iraqi banking system, the demand for land, real estate and gold is expected to rise because they are a store of value, which will lead to an increase in their prices or people hoarding some of their savings in Iraqi dinars, as well as the expectation that the Central Bank of Iraq’s sales will decline in the coming days due to the increase in the dollar supply.” in the local market.

Yesterday, Friday, the Minister of Finance, Ali Abdul-Amir Allawi, responded to a request to be summoned by the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hakim Al-Zamili under the dome of Parliament, considering it an outrageous and unacceptable interference that should not be tolerated, while confirming that he would seek a vote of confidence in him from the House of Representatives.

Allawi mentioned in a letter he addressed to Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, which included 21 points, the following:

1- I received a summons from the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to appear before him to discuss the exchange rate. This came as soon as Muqtada al-Sadr tweeted, asking me to appear before Parliament to discuss the exchange rate.

2- The summoning of the Deputy Speaker of Parliament came as a result of the tweet of Mr. Muqtada, the leader of the Sadrist movement, to which the Deputy Speaker of Parliament belongs.

3- The entire process is not acceptable and should not be tolerated, whether for the dignity of the government, my dignity as a minister, or my personal dignity and the dignity of my family.

4- First. This government is not accountable to any political party. It is only answerable to the Iraqi people through its elected parliament.

5- If, as a government, we do not reject these nefarious interferences in the function of government by political parties, we may cede the independence of the government as the executive arm of the state. Here comes the question of determining the role of the government, whether it represents the people or an executive arm of political parties.

6- I categorically reject the summons of the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, because they are outside his powers. I also completely reject government running through tweets from political leaders.

7- I am a minister in a sovereign ministry. I worked in very difficult circumstances for nearly two years. I believe I have succeeded in managing the finances of the country, nurturing the economy towards a degree of safety.

8- I had to make many difficult decisions, including my strong call for an exchange rate adjustment. The decision was supported by the international community, the Council of Ministers, the Central Bank of Iraq and political parties in two separate meetings with their leadership, which was approved by the House of Representatives in February 2021. I made it clear that the costs of adjusting the currency would be immediate; But the benefits will appear in the medium and long term.

9- In order to protect the poor, a huge increase for the poor and vulnerable has been included in the 2021 budget, amounting to nearly 3 trillion Iraqi dinars to be disbursed through the Ministry of Labor. This unfortunately was curtailed by the House of Representatives in the final budget.

10- After a year we can evaluate the benefits of the exchange rate adjustment, which are very real. But the politicization of the exchange rate, making it responsible for high prices.

11- (High prices) This is a deliberate lie and the people should be aware of it. International prices for all goods and freight have risen dramatically in the past year.

12- Wheat, cooking oil, sugar and fertilizer multiplied many times over. This is about the collapse of the global supply chain and not anything about exchange rate adjustment. Instead of focusing on the real reason for the price hike, people are being fed nonsense about the exchange rate as the source of the cost of living increase we have seen over the past year.

13- I am ready to defend my position and my economic and financial policy before the House of Representatives as a whole and not in front of a particular parliamentary faction.

14- I demand the exercise of my rights under the Iraqi constitution, and I seek a vote of confidence in me by the House of Representatives. I have this right under Article 61/8 of the Constitution. “It is not permissible to raise the issue of confidence in a minister except upon his request or upon a request signed by fifty members….”

15- I will write to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and ask him to take this vote of confidence early. I will also ask him to give me one hour to explain my policies to the House before the vote takes place.

16- Since I was in the government, I have been subjected to a barrage of attacks and personal slanders both in social media and by politicians and some who call themselves analysts and media commentators. I have ignored all this harm because it is based on lies, slander or ignorance.

17- When the leader of a great political party treats me lightly as one of his followers, I must reject it outright. I know that the Sadrists voted for me when I was first nominated for the position of Minister of Finance, and they have stood by me through many crises including defending the exchange rate adjustment.

I freely admit this, but this does not give them the right to address me as a servant at their request and invitation.

18- Attacks continue my family. I don’t brag about my family lineage. But my family has given so much to this country. We have been citizens of Baghdad for hundreds of years. As the Allawi family, we have provided more ministers to Iraqi governments since independence than any other family. Six ministers and one prime minister. If we include the families close to us, Chalabi, the number will rise with four more ministers and one deputy prime minister. My great uncle Hussein Allawi signed a petition to bring Faisal I to Iraq.

19- Our family is completely Iraqi. We do not differentiate between Shiites and Sunnis, Christians and Yazidis. We do not differentiate between an Arab, a Kurd or a Turkmen. In my personal entourage, I am guarded by the Kurds, my personal secretary is among the Sunni brothers, and my personal office in the ministry is headed by a Shiite woman of high religious principles. We are not talking about diversity.

20- We have been supporters of the reference for centuries, and we respect the great religious families with the highest degree of esteem, and no member of my family has been contaminated with corruption or wrongdoing. They were motivated by real service with no concern for reward or benefit. I hope I have continued in this long approach.

21- We will not abandon this country in the face of bullying, pressure or threats. We have always stood against tyranny in any form or kind, and we will continue to do so.”

Earlier on Thursday, the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hakim Al-Zamili, sent a request to summon the Minister of Finance, Ali Allawi, and the Governor of the Central Bank, Mustafa Ghaleb, after a tweet by the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr, that included proposals regarding the dollar exchange rate, including summoning the director of the Central Bank and the Minister of Finance. Parliament has a date next Saturday to meet with them to discuss the dollar exchange rate.

Nrttv.com

Former Finance Minister Rafie al-Issawi sentenced to two years in prison

Shafaq News / A judicial source reported on Sunday that the Karkh Investigation Court in the capital, Baghdad, issued a suspended sentence of two years in prison against former Finance Minister Rafie al-Issawi.

The source told Shafaq News that the ruling against Al-Issawi related to a case related to one of the previous cases related to integrity when he was serving as Minister of Finance.

And the Supreme Judicial Council announced in June of the year 2020, the release of former Finance Minister Rafie al-Issawi on bail, after the absence of evidence against him according to terrorism.

And the Supreme Judicial Council in Iraq announced, in 2020, the arrest of the accused, Rafi Al-Issawi, the former Iraqi Minister of Finance, to be investigated for the crimes he is accused of.

Al-Issawi, who belongs to the Union of Iraqi National Forces (Sunni Alliance) bloc, held the position of Finance Minister in the Iraqi government between 2008-2014 when Nuri al-Maliki was prime minister, and al-Issawi resigned from his position before the end of his duties after being accused of supporting terrorism.

Shafaq.com

The currency market in Sulaymaniyah to the population: Do not sell your dollars cheaply
sell dollars

Shafaq News / The currency market in the city of Sulaymaniyah on Friday urged residents not to sell the hard currency, the dollar, in their possession at a cheap price.

The market sent a message to the residents, saying, “It is better to take caution and not sell your dollars at a cheap price until the morning of the next day of the Iraqi parliament meeting to see what will happen.”

According to the letter, “the market is unstable and prices are unreasonable.”
On Thursday, the Presidency of the Iraqi Parliament announced that it had summoned Finance Minister Ali Allawi and Central Bank Governor Mustafa Ghalib to come to the parliament building “immediately” tomorrow, Saturday.

The Presidency stated, in a brief statement, that the summoning of financial officials came as a “response” to the directives of the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr.
On Thursday, Al-Sadr presented six proposals regarding the exchange rate of the dollar against the Iraqi dinar, including summoning the Minister of Finance, Ali Allawi, and the governor of the Central Bank, Mustafa Ghaleb, immediately.

Al-Sadr’s proposals included, “strongly stopping currency smuggling, looking into the matter of some banks such as (Middle East, Al-Qabd, and Al-Ansari) belonging to some people who control the currency, and other private banks, and dealing firmly with banks belonging to some of the parties controlling the country and people.”

In addition, Al-Sadr urged “to organize the Iraqi currency market centrally and in a correct manner, by enacting some laws that increase the value of the dinar exchange rate.”
It is noteworthy that the annual inflation in Iraq rose significantly after raising the exchange rate of the dollar against the dinar in the 2021 budget, to equal every 100 dollars 145 thousand dinars, after it was 121 thousand.

It is worth noting that all the prices of materials and commodities in the Iraqi market witnessed a significant increase, in conjunction with the devaluation of the dinar, which sparked a wave of strong resentment among the popular circles, as well as the objections of some interested in economic affairs.

Shafaq.com

Deputy on the need to reduce the exchange rate of the dollar: It is not enough and the government must compensate the people

Baghdad – Mawazine News, MP from the State of Law coalition, Alia Nassif, renewed, on Friday, her demand to restore the exchange rate of the dollar against the dinar to what it was in the past, while the government called on the government to compensate the people for the damage they sustained due to the increase in the exchange rate, before the month of Ramadan .

Nassif said in a statement, “We demanded through dozens of statements and press statements to reduce the dollar exchange rate, and the Ministry of Finance did not respond, and we are used to seeing the concerned authorities, each of them throwing the ball into the other’s court, and thus the responsibility is lost, and the citizen pays the price.”

She added that “the State of Law coalition was the first to warn of the repercussions of raising the dollar exchange rate and its effects on people with limited income, and for this reason it was rejecting this measure, and indeed our expectations were correct and people were harmed, especially the poor class,” noting that “it was better for the government to fight corruption in The currency market and some banks owned by corruption whales and backed by political parties instead of harming the simple citizen and fighting him for his livelihood.”

Nassif continued, “The increase in oil prices formed a reserve cash block for the country, and despite that, the borrowing is still going on, unfortunately, in addition to the continuation of financial corruption, which is a major cause of the people’s suffering,” stressing that “lowering the dollar exchange rate will not be enough, but we demand the government to compensate the people.” For the damage he sustained during that period, especially since we are approaching the month of Ramadan.”

Mawazin.net

Al-Sadr proposes 6 points regarding the dollar exchange rate

Today, the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, proposed 6 points regarding the dollar exchange rate.

Al-Sadr said in a document obtained by (the Fourth): “With regard to the exchange rate of the dollar, we propose some proposals in order for this not to continue:

First: To stop the smuggling of currency, forcefully and firmly, as well as forged invoices.

Second: Looking into the matter of some banks such as the Middle East Bank Al-Qaleb and Al-Ansari belonging to some people who control the currency and some other private banks

Third: Immediately summoning the director of the Central Bank under the dome of Parliament

Fourth: Immediately summoning the Minister of Finance under the dome of Parliament

Fifth: Regulating the Iraqi currency market centrally and in a correct manner and by enacting some laws that increase the value of The Iraqi dinar exchange rate

Sixth: Dealing firmly with some banks belonging to some of the parties controlling the country and the people.

Alrabiaa.tv

Al-Kazemi’s advisor: It is time to address the side effects of changing the exchange rate

Baghdad – Mawazine News, the financial advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, confirmed today, Thursday, that the time has come to address the side effects of the exchange rate change and its effects on income, while warning of a double financial slope related to unemployment.

Saleh said, “The time has come for fiscal policy to play its active and important role in addressing the side effects that resulted from the exchange rate change and its effects on income, especially the negative impact of the poor and low-income classes by price failures without compensation.”

He added, “Usually, the transitional effects of the exchange rate depreciation on monetary income correspond to positive fiscal policies with influential social and economic effects within the income range, i.e. creating counter-price effects that generate positive or real income effects that help stabilize the standard of living for the low-income social classes.”

He added, “This aspect is directly related to the importance of reducing customs taxes in a tangible way on imported foodstuffs, medicines and local production supplies, as well as restructuring government support for goods and services that directly affect the poor social classes.”

He pointed out that “the most important thing is to start adopting employment policies for the unemployed and expanding the cash income space with additional and exceptional measures that lead to the employment of the unemployed in a tangible and comprehensive manner and creating sources of cash income that increase the welfare of society.”

He continued, “Unemployment today is one of the most serious economic and social scourges in our country and becomes more dangerous when accompanied by price developments that lead to an erosion of cash income or the purchasing power of family income sources, and it is a double financial slope that must be avoided.”

Earlier, the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, presented today, Thursday, six proposals regarding the dollar exchange rate.

In a statement, Mr. Al-Sadr said, “With regard to the dollar exchange rate, we propose some proposals in order for this not to continue:

1- To stop the smuggling of currency, forcefully and firmly, as well as forged invoices.

2- To look into the matter of some banks such as the Middle East Bank, Al-Qaqid and Al-Ansari that belong to each other . Persons controlling the currency and some other private banks

3- Immediately summoning the director of the Central Bank under the dome of Parliament

4- Summoning the Minister of Finance under the parliament immediately

5- Regulating the Iraqi currency market centrally and in a correct manner and by enacting some laws that increase the value of the Iraqi dinar exchange rate

6- Dealing firmly with some banks belonging to some of the parties that control the country and the people .

Mawazin.net

Economist: The Decision To Reduce The Dollar Exchange Rate Is In The Hands Of The Central Bank Only

Earth News / The economic expert, Hammam Al-Shamaa, confirmed today, Thursday, that the decision to reduce the dollar exchange rate is exclusively in the hands of the Central Bank of Iraq according to the law, and no one is allowed to act on it.

Al-Shammaa said in an interview with Earth News, “The decision to reduce the dollar exchange rate in the local markets is exclusively in the hands of the Central Bank of Iraq, according to the law, and no one may act on it without a decision from the bank.”

He added, “On the other hand, the tweet of the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, does not mean a return to the old price, as it is not permissible to reduce the exchange rate at the expense of the poor, as exchange rates must maintain their balance so that everyone maintains their standard of living without being hurt by the rise or decline.”

And the economic expert continued, “What happened in the process of changing the exchange rate neglected the consequences of the change for low-income people and the levels of the general Iraqi people, and the government did not take adequate measures to compensate the poor for the poor living conditions they suffered as a result of the high prices of imported and local materials at rates up to 25%, and this is heavier their shoulders.”

He continued, “Therefore, I think that Al-Sadr respects the laws and the powers of the Central Bank and estimates that returning the exchange rates to its previous era will lead to major economic problems.”

Earthiq.news

Al-Sadr demands that the Iraqis be spared the damages of interest accruing from the high exchange rates of the dollar

Shafaq News / The leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, demanded, on Wednesday, that Iraqis be spared the interest damages gained from the rise in dollar exchange rates in the country.

Al-Sadr wrote in his Twitter post, “The rise in the dollar exchange rate, and the benefits and damages that it entails, should not at all cause a rise in the prices of commodities in the markets, especially the important ones.”

Al-Sadr stressed the need to work through economic security to punish all merchants who seek to do so, and the like, according to the law, especially among the people approaching the month of Ramadan.

Shafaq.com

Iraq Opens 373 Money Recovery Files And Pursues Wanted Persons

The Information/Baghdad… The head of the “Al-Nahrain Network to Support Integrity and Transparency” and member of the “United Nations Convention Against Corruption” coalition, Muhammad Rahim Al-Rubaie, announced, on Wednesday, that Iraq has made progress in filing civil lawsuits to recover funds in some countries that allowed him to do so by opening 373 recovery files. Money and wanted pursuit.

Al-Rubaie said in an interview seen by / the information /, that “Iraq’s interest in recovering looted assets, which are usually money and convicted or accused persons, began since 2011. A group of Arab countries, which had a significant impact on the interaction of specific mechanisms to open files to recover these funds.”

He added that “the conference held in the capital, Baghdad, allowed Iraq to exchange experiences, and the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs, the Integrity Commission and the Stolen Funds Recovery Fund sought to work seriously for this with international cooperation, signing agreements and concluding protocols with Member States of the United Nations to combat corruption.”

And he indicated that “the matter has revealed its results now that the Integrity Commission and the Fund have opened (373) files to recover money and accused and convicted persons,” describing it as “a good step to implement the chapters of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, especially (Chapter V) of it on the recovery of funds, and Iraq.” Take the necessary measures for the immediate recovery of these properties.”

Al-Rubaie added, “What Iraq needs is for the countries receiving these funds or those on their soil to allow the accused and convicts to make room in the legal system for the affected countries to take legal and judicial measures against them before their judicial authorities,” noting that “some countries allow Iraq to file lawsuits.” Civilian to recover money through its judiciary has made progress and is a good step,” expressing his wishes to recover a lot of money during this year or next.

He stressed, “Iraq’s need for the Stolen Funds Recovery Fund Law in order to seek community involvement in anti-corruption measures. There are international experiences that have allocated a fund to recover funds that focus on infrastructure projects in poor or corruption-affected areas, so that there will be an important step if Iraq does so, This motivates all segments of society to engage in the fight against corruption and reduce it significantly, as well as new legislation that allows victims of corruption to demand these corrupt and thieves of public money to compensate them for the damage they have suffered.” finished/25

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