Barzani thanks the Kurdish political forces for their position on granting confidence or not

The President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani, on Monday thanked the Kurdish political forces, which united their ranks about granting confidence or not to the new Iraqi government, “despite their differing views.”

Barzani said, in a message he sent to the public opinion in Iraq and the Kurdistan region, which was reviewed by Alsumaria News, “I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to all the Kurdish political forces that have united their ranks and their position in terms of giving confidence or not to the new Iraqi government despite differing views,” noting “The crystallization of this unified position is a historical gain and a matter of appreciation to the people of Kurdistan.”

In parallel, the face of Barzani, “thanked the Iraqi national political forces that prevented the correct logical positions deepening and increasing crises in Iraq and slide toward disaster.” He said that “those positions in recognition of the principles of democracy, and taking into account the demands of the Iraqi components, and an amendment to the path of the political process, now stands Iraq in front of a new stage, could be the opportunity to achieve the legitimate demands of the demonstrators, securing ground appropriate comprehensive national consensus, and ensure convergence between all parties

Alsumaria.tv

Iraq power vacuum as political crisis hits PM post

Iraq’s caretaker prime minister will begin a “voluntary absence” after parliament failed to approve his designated successor’s cabinet.

Adel Abdul Mahdi said he would no longer carry out most of his official duties and urged lawmakers to call early elections in December.

On Sunday, Mohammed Allawi withdrew his nomination for the premiership.

He said political parties were not serious about implementing the reforms promised to anti-government protesters.

President Barham Saleh said he would propose another prime minister within 15 days, in line with the constitution.

It has been five months since Iraqis began taking to the streets of Baghdad and many southern cities to express their anger at endemic corruption, high unemployment, dire public services and foreign interference in the oil-rich country.

More than 450 unarmed protesters have been shot dead by security forces and unidentified gunmen during the unrest. Thousands of others have been injured.

Mr Allawi was named as prime minister-designate in February, ending two months of deadlock in parliament following the resignation of Mr Abdul Mahdi.

On Sunday night, after parliament failed for a second time in a week to hold a vote on his proposed cabinet, the former communications minister announced that he was withdrawing his nomination.

“I tried by all possible means to save Iraq from drifting to the unknown and to solve the current crisis, but during negotiations I faced many matters,” he said.

“The choice was simple and clear, which was to stand with my patient people, especially when I saw that some political groups were not serious about reform and their promises to the people,” he added, without naming any parties. “They put in place obstacles [to prevent] the formation of an independent government.”

The powerful populist Shia Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr said Mr Allawi had taken the decision “for the love of Iraq”, and accused “corrupt” politicians of “holding the country hostage”.

But protesters in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, who had rejected Mr Allawi as the choice of the political establishment they want to sweep away in its entirety, celebrated the announcement.

“We hope that the president will nominate an acceptable candidate whom everyone on the streets of Iraq can agree on,” one young man told Reuters news agency.

“The Iraqi street is angry. The candidate should not come through the will of parties, the corrupt parties which we want to remove,” he added.

On Monday evening, Mr Abdul Mahdi said he had decided not to quit as caretaker prime minister, which he had threatened to do.

“The most dangerous thing that we currently face is the prospect of a constitutional and administrative vacuum,” he said in a statement.

But Mr Abdul Mahdi warned that he would stop carrying out most official duties – including chairing cabinet meetings, signing documents, and meeting foreign dignitaries – to put pressure on parliament to finalize new electoral legislation, dissolve itself and call early elections.

He said he was acting in line with the due legal and constitutional provisions.

BBC.com

Iraqi PM-designate Allawi resigns due to ‘political pressure’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Tafwiq Allawi has submitted his resignation following his inability to secure parliamentary approval to form a cabinet, according to Iraqi state TV.

“As a sign of respect to the confidence that I was given when I was appointed to form the government, I promised that I would resign if I face any political pressure, because I had promised that I would form an independent government, devoid of political party representatives,” Allawi in a televised speech early on March 2.

Under the Iraqi constitution, he had until the 2nd to form a cabinet.

The Iraqi parliament initially conducted an emergency session on Thursday to vote on Allawi’s cabinet, but did not reach quorum and the vote was postponed to Saturday, and then rescheduled to Sunday.

“If I had ever compromised on my promises, I would have now been the prime minister, but I did not do it,” Allawi said.

“There are some political parties who are not being serious and all they think of is the own interests,” he said. “During the talks, some sides were speaking only of their own interests.”

He did not specifically target or hint at any sides.

“I am calling on the Mr. President [Barham Salih] to accept my apology that I cannot carry out the responsibility I was given,” he added.

He said he did his best to resolve the existing problems gripping Iraq, most notably corruption.

In parts of his speech, he called on the protests to continue.

“I hope the peaceful protests continue so the sacrifices you have made will not go wasted and here I am joining you. I will not compromise,” he added.

The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) delegation in Baghdad had earlier reached a deal with opposition parties to try and prevent Allawi from forming his cabinet.

Just 120 MPs turned up to last week’s session in Baghdad – shy of the 165 needed to meet quorum. Kurdish and Sunni parties seem to have deliberately avoided the session, alongside some Shiites, because they fear that Allawi intended to exclude their choice of candidates from power.

Caretaker PM Adil Abdul-Mahdi resigned in the face of widespread protests in Iraq’s southern and central provinces. The protests have raged since October 1, 2019, with Iraqis demanding the removal of the post-2003 political elite, an overhaul of the political system, and early elections.

Allawi- appointed as Abdul-Mahdi’s successor- was given a free hand by Shiite parties to choose an independent cabinet on the condition that Kurds and Sunnis grant him the same freedom. His insistence to appoint candidates himself, however, caused tensions with Kurdish representatives.

Rudaw.net

Source: Allawi will deliver a statement shortly after the withdrawal from the mandate

A political source said, on Sunday, that Prime Minister-designate Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi will deliver a statement shortly after he withdrew from his mandate to form a government.

The source said to Alsumaria News, “Prime Minister-designate Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi will deliver the withdrawal statement from forming the government, shortly.”

Today, Sunday, the House of Representatives failed for the second time to hold an extraordinary session to vote on the government of Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi.

Alsumaria.tv

The Iraqi parliament postponed the approval session for the new government because the quorum was not complete

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi television said the parliament again postponed a session to approve the government of Prime Minister-designate Muhammad Allawi on Sunday because the quorum had not been completed.

On Thursday, lawmakers failed to agree on a new government, which added to the stalemate, stalled efforts to end unprecedented turmoil and stalled the country’s recovery from the war years.

Ara.reuters.com

Muhammad Salih: The political blocs respect my independence as a technocrat candidate for the ministerial post

Baghdad / Nina / The economic expert nominated for the post of Minister of Planning in the new government, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, said: “The political blocs respect my independence as a technocrat and a candidate for the ministerial post.”

He added in a statement to the Iraqi National News Agency ( NINA ): “All my life, you have not belonged to any political party, and my feeling indicates that the various political fronts respect my independence and my profession as a technocrat.”

And Saleh continued: “The matter, whether it was done or not, will not affect my status as an independent and economist working for the country and reforming its economic reality.”

It is scheduled that the House of Representatives meet today with an extraordinary session to vote on the new cabinet. / End 3

Ninanews.com

Muqtada al-Sadr arrives in Baghdad

Baghdad / Al-Ghad Press: The leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, arrived in the capital, Baghdad, and this came before the alleged parliament session was held today, Sunday.

A source familiar with “Al-Ghad Press” said, “Muqtada Al-Sadr arrived in Baghdad today, before the parliament session, to vote on the government of Prime Minister-designate Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi.”

Alghadpress.com

Urgent entry of large numbers to the liberation square

{Baghdad _ Ain} The delegate of the Ayna news agency in Tahrir Square pointed to the entry of large numbers of demonstrators from a number of governorates to the square, and mentioned that the demonstrators now arriving, most of them from the governorates of Dhi Qar and Wasit and the province of Babel,

where he confirmed that the arrival of the demonstrators came in response to the campaign that This activity was launched by the doctor and activity on the governorate of Dhi Qar Alaa al-Rikabi, which was supported by many activists and demonstrators,

and al-Rikabi had called this campaign the name of the martyrs ’deadline in which he called for demonstrations on the Karkh side in Baghdad and near the Green Zone,

As this call came to demand the government to speed up the implementation of the demands of the demonstrators and not to delay and procrastinate

Alliraqnews.com

Barzani’s party: Allawi’s government is a lifeline and the blocs should not miss the opportunity

Al-Akhbariya: Member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Majed Shankali, confirmed, on Saturday, his party’s support for Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi, noting that today there have been positive understandings with Allawi

. The opportunity, “indicating that” not to pass the Allawi government will enter Iraq with new mazes. ”

He added, “The President of the Republic, Barham Salih, will never assume the post of prime minister for several political reasons,” noting that “the government of Abdul-Mahdi will continue if the Allawi government fails.”

Ikhnews.com

Allawi reaches agreements with the Kurds and Sunnis and guarantees to pass his booth tomorrow

Mawazine News – A source close to Prime Minister-designate Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi said on Saturday that the latter had reached agreements with Kurdish and Sunni blocs on the cabinet.

The source said in an interview with (Mawazine News) that “Allawi reached an agreement with the Kurds regarding the candidates from the component in his cabinet, and there is also an agreement with the Sunni blocs.”

He added, “After these agreements, the passage of the cabinet in the emergency session tomorrow is very possible.”

Mawazin.net