A member of the Democratic Party: Holding new elections in the region is the most likely option to resolve the Kurdistan issue.

On Monday, Mahdi Abdul Karim, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, explained the reasons behind the delay in forming the regional government, despite the fact that about a year and a half has passed since the parliamentary elections were held in the region.

Abdul Karim told Al-Maalomah that “the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan linked the formation of the regional government to the formation of the federal government in Baghdad and the resolution of the presidency,” which “contributed to complicating the political scene within Kurdistan and pushing it towards a near-deadlock.”

He added that “political dialogues between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union have been stalled for months, and there are currently no new negotiating tracks or indications of any intention to reach political understandings between the Kurdish parties.”

Abdul Karim pointed out that “the only option currently on the table to get out of the crisis is to hold new elections, which seems to be the most likely to be implemented in the next phase after the negotiations reached a dead end.”

The Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections were held on October 20, 2024, after being postponed four times due to political disputes. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) won more than 40 seats, followed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) with more than 20 seats, and the New Generation Movement with approximately 17 seats. However, disagreements over the distribution of positions and entitlements have prevented the formation of a government to date.

Almaalomah.me

Government advisor: Iraq’s natural resources are estimated at $16 trillion

The financial advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Muhammad Saleh, stressed the importance of activating sovereign wealth funds as a strategic tool to revive and diversify the national economy, in conjunction with Iraq’s continued reliance on oil revenues as a primary source of funding for the general budget, and in light of the ongoing fluctuations in oil prices and the financial challenges facing the country.

Saleh said in a press statement followed by Al-Furat News that the government program that was recently approved by the House of Representatives indicated the importance of sovereign wealth funds and working to establish a generation fund by investing available unexploited national assets, indicating that estimates indicate that the next stage will be an appropriate opportunity to launch or expand the work of sovereign wealth and investment funds, benefiting from the reinvestment of natural resources that Iraq abounds in, as it is one of the richest countries in the world in natural resources and occupies the ninth international ranking in natural resources, whose current market value is estimated at more than 16 trillion US dollars, which allows for the conversion of the returns on investing these resources into financial surpluses and sustainable revenues during the coming years, within the strong economic policy adopted by the current government.

He added that the sovereign wealth fund is not just a “savings account,” but rather an investment institution that aims to invest a portion of the state’s revenues in productive projects, both domestic and foreign, that generate long-term returns and provide protection for the national economy from future crises and global financial fluctuations. He pointed out that the Iraqi economy still depends almost entirely on oil, and oil revenues constitute the largest share of the general budget, making the country vulnerable to any sharp decline in global prices or geopolitical crises affecting the energy market.

He pointed to the growing importance of sovereign wealth funds in financing vital sectors such as industry, agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, transportation and logistics, in addition to technology and communications, as well as supporting the private sector and creating new job opportunities, especially with the growing youth workforce within what is known as the “demographic dividend,” where young people are expected to constitute about 60% of Iraq’s population in the next few years.

He added that the experiences of the Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as Norway, can be cited, which, through their sovereign wealth funds, have been able to transform oil surpluses into huge global investments that generate sustainable profits for future generations. He pointed out that Gulf investment funds are among the most prominent regional models that have expanded their investments within their countries and abroad, and have contributed to supporting economic diversification plans and reducing dependence on oil.

Saleh explained that Iraq has moved in recent years to establish the beginnings of development and investment funds aimed at attracting foreign capital and stimulating major projects, in an attempt to create a more stable economic environment. The government has also adopted a policy of providing sovereign guarantees to support private sector projects and investment, a step that may pave the way for expanding the role of investment funds in the future.

He stressed that the success of any sovereign wealth fund in Iraq remains contingent on the existence of an independent management with the highest levels of governance and transparency, because the absence of sound oversight may turn these funds into tools for short-term government spending, instead of being investment institutions that achieve long-term strategic returns.

He explained that improving the investment environment, banking reform, and developing economic legislation are key factors to ensure the success of the Iraqi experience, especially in light of the move towards establishing the “Generations Fund” which was included in the government program and was recently approved by the House of Representatives, in addition to the local market’s need for productive projects capable of driving the economy and reducing dependence on imports.

Saleh concluded by noting that, in light of global economic shifts and the challenges related to energy markets and trade routes, Iraq has a real opportunity to transform its future oil surpluses into a sustainable economic base if they are invested according to a long-term vision focused on development and production. He stressed that the country’s success in building a sovereign wealth fund that is transparent and independent could constitute a pivotal turning point in the Iraqi economy, and open the door to a new phase based on diversifying sources of income and enhancing financial stability for future generations.

Alforatnews.iq

Parliament is moving to avoid a “paralysis” scenario and aims to finalize the oil, gas, and telecommunications laws.

MP Hussein Ali announced on Monday a serious parliamentary determination to avoid a repeat of the scenario that disrupted parliamentary sessions in the previous session. He emphasized that the House of Representatives has successfully completed the reading and passage of 16 laws so far, focusing on strategic legislation related to oil and communications.

Ali told Al-Maalouma, “The House of Representatives is working intensively to activate its legislative role and avoid the obstacles and political gridlock that led to the disruption of sessions in the past.” He explained that “Parliament is moving steadily to compensate for previous delays.”
He added that “the House has so far managed to complete the reading and proceed with the legal procedures for 16 diverse laws affecting various sectors,” noting that “parliamentary focus is currently on resolving contentious laws that have been stalled for years.”
Ali continued, “There is a concerted parliamentary effort to pass the postponed oil and gas law, the communications and information technology law, as well as a package of other laws that are of paramount importance in regulating the country’s economic resources and infrastructure.”

Almaalomah.me

Determination: Parliamentary consensus to dismiss Halbousi from the presidency of Parliament

Mohammed Dhari al-Dulaimi, a leader in the “Azm” Alliance, revealed on Monday that there is a broad parliamentary movement to collect signatures from a number of MPs from various blocs, with the aim of withdrawing confidence from Speaker of Parliament Haibat al-Halbousi and removing him from his position.

Al-Dulaimi told Al-Maalomah that “there is an agreement among MPs from the Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish components to proceed with the procedures for removing the Speaker of Parliament, due to what he described as violations in the management of the sessions to grant confidence to the government and the mechanism for voting on the cabinet.”
He added that “the management of the sessions witnessed, in his words, “quabbles and attempts to exclude some candidates,” indicating that this led to tensions within the parliament.”
Al-Dulaimi accused the Speaker of Parliament of “unilaterally making decisions,” stressing that there are “attempts to use Parliament to serve a specific political party, namely the Taqaddum Alliance.”

Almaalomah.me

Al-Khalidi reveals a “powerful alliance” led by Al-Maliki and a parallel movement to Al-Sudani that includes 100 MPs.

Member of the Coordination Framework, Mohammed al-Khalidi, revealed today, Monday, an intense political movement to form new alliances within the Council of Representatives. He pointed to the inclination of some forces towards the opposition front led by the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, countered by a parallel movement by the head of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, to form a major parliamentary bloc.

Al-Khalidi told Al-Maalouma, “There is a real and serious inclination by some political forces towards the option of parliamentary opposition under the umbrella of a new alliance being arranged under the name ‘The Alliance of the Strong.’” He explained that “this alliance will be headed by the leader of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, and will adopt political opposition as its approach within the parliament.”
He added that “these movements are met on the other side by parallel efforts and activity led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani,” noting that “al-Sudani’s movement aims to form a broad and supportive political alliance that includes more than 100 members of parliament to ensure political and executive stability.”
Regarding the recent withdrawals, Al-Khalidi affirmed that “the political blocs that withdrew from the coalition recently will not affect its weight, influence, or decision-making power within the parliament.”

Almaalomah.me

Al-Hamami: An important political formation headed by Al-Maliki will be announced soon.

Former MP Arif al-Hamami acknowledged on Monday that a significant political formation is emerging on the Iraqi scene, headed by Nouri al-Maliki, and may be announced in the near future.

Al-Hamami told Al-Maalouma that “the political landscape in Iraq needs adjustments to ensure its proper course in serving all components, far removed from the language of circumvention, manipulation, and attempts to disregard the entitlements of political forces and movements.”

He added that “a significant political formation is emerging in the near future, headed by al-Maliki,” noting that “al-Maliki is determined to proceed in protecting the political process.”

He explained that “the results of the vote on Ali al-Zaidi’s government revealed many truths,” emphasizing that “this necessitates a series of measures to ensure that the political process proceeds in an Iraqi manner, free from external agendas.”

He concluded by saying that “the coming period will be full of important decisions that will strengthen citizens’ confidence in the political process.”

Almaalomah.me

British report details al-Zaidi’s “impossible mission”

The rise of Ali al-Zaidi to the premiership in Iraq reflects more than just a routine transfer of power; it represents a profound shift in the political landscape. However, his success depends not only on his reform agenda, but also, according to the London-based Middle East Online website, on whether the fragmented political forces and their external supporters are willing to accept the new balance of power.

Under the headline “Al-Zaidi faces an impossible balancing act as Iraq’s power structure shifts,” Middle East Online reported in English, as translated by Shafaq News Agency, that the old balance between Iranian-backed factions, traditional Shiite alliances, and American influence appears to be constantly unstable, noting that Al-Zaidi is entering office without the strong political support that previous prime ministers usually enjoyed from factions linked to Iran.

According to the report, the session to grant confidence to al-Zidi revealed wide cracks within the coordinating framework that represents the Shiite parties that have dominated politics in recent years, pointing to disputes over ministerial portfolios, political influence and the collapse of aspects of existing understandings. It added that this turmoil revealed something deeper than the struggle over government seats, and highlighted the weakness of the unified Shiite consensus that traditionally shaped the formation of the government in Iraq after 2003.

The report continued that instead of the strong political support that previous prime ministers usually enjoyed from forces linked to Iran, al-Zaidi inherits a divided political environment that raises doubts about old formulas for power-sharing and challenges the dominance of entrenched political elites.

However, the report noted that the cracks within the Shiite political establishment are accompanied by broader regional shifts resulting from the American-Israeli war against Iran, adding that although Tehran’s influence within Iraq remains significant, many analysts believe that the conflict has weakened Iran’s regional influence and reduced the room for maneuver available to its Iraqi allies.

After the report noted Washington’s objection to Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination and the direct American pressure, then the Coordination Framework’s abandonment of his nomination, and the proposal of al-Zidi, who has no previous political experience, the report said that his personal profile helped him to appear as an acceptable compromise solution, as he does not have a long history of militia affiliations or ideological bias towards Tehran, and his background in finance and business allows him to present himself as a technocratic reformer who focuses on economic recovery rather than factional politics.

However, the report considered that al-Zaydi’s “relative neutrality” could also be his “weak point,” since without a strong faction behind him, there is a risk that he will become vulnerable to pressure from competing blocs, armed forces, and external actors vying for influence over the state.

Although the report referred to the “ambitious reform program” put forward by al-Zaydi, it said that translating these promises into reality would be difficult in a country where political paralysis, corruption networks, and militia influence remain deeply entrenched.

According to the report, the most sensitive issue facing the new government is likely to be the issue of weapons outside state control. It noted that al-Zaidi pledged to strengthen the state’s monopoly on weapons and reform the security apparatus, echoing the growing American demands to curb the influence of Iranian-backed armed groups, which are accused of launching hundreds of attacks on American facilities in Iraq and the region, to which Washington responded with strikes against armed groups, exacerbating tensions within Iraq.

The report continued that this issue revealed deep divisions among political forces, as while some factions indicated their willingness to accept the idea of ​​integrating fighters into official state structures, other factions rejected any discussion about disarmament in light of what they describe as American coercion.

In addition, the report addressed the increasing pressures facing Iraq, including due to the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which are affecting the state budget.

The report noted that, according to analysts, al-Zaydi may seek to weaken militia networks through economic measures, including restricting state-funded salaries for thousands of fighters, but any such move would raise significant political and security risks.

On the regional level, the report says that al-Zaidi’s government must work to repair strained relations with the Gulf states, which are angry about attacks carried out by Iranian-linked factions during the war.

Middle East Online concluded that al-Zaidi’s repeated emphasis on building a “balanced country, regionally and internationally” reflects the difficult balancing act currently facing Baghdad, adding that Iraq remains caught between two competing powers, Iran and the United States, while its internal political system is becoming increasingly divided. It added that the old post-2003 political system, based on relatively stable alliances and strong factional discipline, appears to be weakening under the weight of regional conflict, economic crisis, and internal division.

The report concluded by saying that al-Zaydi currently represents a consensus candidate trying to navigate a dangerous transitional phase, but his success may depend not only on his reform agenda, but also on whether the fragmented Iraqi political forces, and their supporters abroad, are willing to accept the new balance of power.

Shafaq.com

Central Bank of Iraq: Trade surplus in 2025 reached $24 billion

Data released by the Central Bank of Iraq on Monday showed that Iraq achieved a trade surplus of approximately $24.686 billion during 2025, driven by a higher value of exports compared to imports.

According to foreign trade data calculated on an FOB basis, which was reviewed by Shafaq News Agency, total Iraqi exports during the year amounted to approximately $90.427.7 billion, compared to imports of $65.741.7 billion.

She added that exports were distributed as follows: $24.112.3 billion in the first quarter, $23.285.6 billion in the second quarter, $21.414.3 billion in the third quarter, before rising slightly to $21.615.5 billion in the fourth quarter.

In contrast, imports totaled $18.158.6 billion in the first quarter, $15.993.1 billion in the second quarter, and $16.102.0 billion in the third quarter, before declining to $15.488.0 billion in the fourth quarter, according to the data.

The data indicated that Iraqi exports exceeded imports in all quarters of the year, which reinforced the continued recording of a trade surplus.

The data was based on Free On Board, a system that calculates the value of goods when loaded onto the means of transport in the exporting country, without including shipping and insurance costs.

Shafaq.com

The National reports on the formation of the Iraqi government.

The Iraqi parliament is scheduled to vote on Thursday on the cabinet lineup presented by Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi, according to a report published Wednesday in the British newspaper The National. The report, translated by Al-Maalomah News Agency, stated that al-Zaidi was nominated by the largest parliamentary bloc, the Coordination Framework bloc, as a consensus candidate for the position last April. His business empire spans from supplying the Iraqi government’s food basket program, which serves millions of citizens, to investments in banking, construction, real estate, tourism, agriculture, food, glass, education, medical services, and energy.

The report added that the 41-year-old has no political background; instead, his public image is built on business ventures that have flourished thanks to lucrative deals with the government. The report continued, “The vote is a crucial step in the government formation process. An absolute majority is required to approve the government, which the prime minister-designate must present within 30 days of his nomination. Al-Zaidi has sought to garner support from various factions within the country.”

The report added, “No details of the proposed cabinet have been released, but Iraqi politicians told the newspaper that al-Zaidi is expected to present approximately half of his cabinet to parliament.”

The Iraqi economy is under severe strain following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This closure has reduced Iraq’s oil exports—the lifeblood of its economy—from 3.5 million barrels per day to around 300,000 barrels per day, further straining an already fragile system. Al-Zaidi also faces the challenge of addressing rampant corruption while rebuilding relations with neighboring Gulf states.

Almaalomah.me

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan: The candidates for Kurdish ministries in the Zaidi government have been finalized.

Burhan Sheikh Raouf, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, revealed today, Wednesday, that “the nomination of candidates from the Kurdish forces to fill four ministerial portfolios within the cabinet of Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi has been completed, in preparation for presenting them to Parliament during the anticipated confidence vote session.”

Sheikh Raouf told Al-Maalouma that “disagreements still exist among some of the forces within the Coordination Framework and the Sunni forces regarding the selection of their candidates for ministerial positions,” noting that “there is a positive atmosphere after Al-Zidi’s visit to Erbil and Sulaymaniyah and his meeting with the leaders of the two main Kurdish parties.”

He pointed out that “the visit laid a new foundation for resolving the outstanding disputes between the central government and the region that have persisted for years.”

Sheikh Raouf added that “the Kurdish forces support the formation of a ‘strong government’ capable of meeting the aspirations of the national forces, while emphasizing adherence to the constitution to resolve disputes between Baghdad and the region.”

The House of Representatives has allocated a single item on its agenda for tomorrow’s session, Thursday, which includes voting on the ministerial program and the government of Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zidi.

Almaalomah.me