Friday AM Iraq Parliament News Highlights 6-16-22

Friday AM Iraq Parliament News Highlights 6-16-22

Coordination framework: Let us seize the opportunity and form the government

Shafaq News/ The representative of the Al-Fateh Alliance, Muhammad Karim Al-Baldawi confirmed today, Thursday, that the opportunity is now available to the coordination framework, as it is the largest bloc in Parliament to form a government.

Al-Baldawi told Shafak News Agency; "The Sadrist movement resolved the issue of resignation by not returning at all, which means that the framework is the largest bloc within Parliament, which puts it upon itself to take control of matters and form a government."

He added, "The next stage requires all parties to reach a political agreement that begins with the completion of the electoral procedures, the formation of the largest bloc, and the selection of the President of the Republic and the ministers thereafter, especially after the Sadrist movement left the opportunity for them to proceed with forming the government."

A source in the coordination framework stated earlier on Thursday that the framework and its allies will hold a meeting with Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi in the coming days, to resolve the Sadrist bloc's resigned replacements.

He pointed out that "the coordinating framework will begin next week with all forces, as it is hoped that a meeting will be held that includes the framework and its allies with the leaders and leaders of the Sovereignty Alliance and the Kurdistan Democratic Party to reach understandings that lead to the formation of a strong government that represents the aspirations of the people."   LINK

Some Called For It To Be Renewed.. The Coordinating Framework Is Divided Against Itself Because Of Al-Kazemi

Shafaq News/ A source in the coordination framework, which includes Shiite forces with the exception of the Sadrist movement, revealed, on Thursday, a split in opinion over the renewal of the outgoing Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, in a step for rapprochement with the political parties supporting the latter.

The source told Shafaq News Agency, "Part of the coordination framework with the directives of the political forces supporting Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi to renew for a second term."

And he indicated that "the framework discussed at today's meeting specific issues and did not address the issue of Al-Kazemi's nomination to head the new government."

He added, "The political blocs, including the Sadrist movement, support the re-grant of confidence to Al-Kazemi to head the new government, with a radical change to the cabinet."

The source indicated that "Al-Kazemi's nomination to head the new government will enjoy the support and support of the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, and this is what the coordination framework is looking for, especially after the Sadrists withdrew from the political process."

Today, the coordination framework held a meeting at the house of the head of the Popular Mobilization Authority, Faleh Al-Fayyad, in the presence of all its leaders and Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, and it is the first time that Al-Kazemi attends a meeting of the framework, according to what a source from within the framework told Shafaq News Agency.

A source in the coordination framework told Shafak News Agency today, Thursday, that "the coordination framework will begin next week with all forces, as it is hoped that a meeting will be held that includes the framework and its allies with the leaders and leaders of the Sovereignty Alliance and the Kurdistan Democratic Party to reach understandings leading to the formation of a government."

This came after the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, confirmed during his meeting with the Sadrist bloc’s representatives who submitted their resignations from the membership of the House of Representatives that there is no going back in the decision to resign and withdraw from the process, except on the condition that “not to participate in the elections in the event that the corrupt participate in it.”  LINK

After Al-Sadr Withdrew .. “Financial Paralysis” In Iraq Due To The “Government Formation Crisis”

Posted On2022-06-17 By Sotaliraq   Warnings of Iraq remaining without a financial budget escalated due to the delay in forming the government, amid concern about the repercussions of the global food crisis, at a time when local food production fell below the level of demand with the increase in population inflation.

The differences between the Iraqi political blocs, since the parliamentary elections on the tenth of last October, have prevented the formation of a new government, while Iraqi laws prevent the current government from disposing of oil sales funds as a "caretaker government."

And the World Bank said in a report, Thursday, that “Iraq is gradually emerging from the deep recession that it experienced in 2020 due to the Corona virus pandemic and the accompanying collapse in oil prices, as after a contraction of more than 11% in 2020, the Iraqi economy achieved a growth rate of 2.8 percent in 2021, with the easing of restrictions imposed by the Corona pandemic on movement.”

He added, "With the gradual cancellation of (OPEC +) production cuts, the oil GDP also began to grow in the second half of 2021, and the rise in oil revenues prompted a surplus in public financial balances and total external balances in Iraq in 2021. “.

The report quoted the Regional Director of the Mashreq Department at the World Bank, Saroj Kumar Jah, as saying that “Iraq has a unique opportunity to carry out urgent and broad structural reforms through 3 means, which are to take advantage of the fiscal space resulting from its recent sudden oil revenues, and to redirect government spending towards programs that It works to improve growth and address the country’s human capital crisis.”

The World Bank report confirms that “the current food security challenges in Iraq have intensified in the midst of the current rise in global commodity prices, while the level of domestic food production is less than the demand caused by rapid population growth, and severe droughts and other climate change factors have exacerbated This situation".

The report believes that "the delay in forming the government and approving the 2022 budget will lead to limiting the use of the country's sudden oil revenues, as the actual ceilings of the 2021 budget have been reached, and the implementation of new investment projects will be suspended, which may reduce economic growth.”

The previous parliament was supposed to legislate the 2022 budget law, but the holding of early elections in October 2021, and the failure to form a new government after the parliamentary elections, prevented the legislation of the budget, which raised the concern of the popular circles, especially with the increasing size of the economic crisis in Iraq.

This situation has caused delays in farmers’ entitlements, disruption of ration card coverage, suspension of investment projects that employ the workforce, as well as disruption of new projects that need to be included in the financial budget, while the current government remains with restricted powers to run daily affairs.

financial paralysis

The Iraqi Council of Ministers advisor, Mazhar Muhammad, believes that “the delay in approving the 2022 budget has led to a paralysis in the financial life, as the government is committed to a limited spending method without sufficient ability to deter economic problems and address them, which calls for the need to expedite access to “The delay in enacting the budget law led to a slowdown in the overall economic activity, including investment spending, which is necessarily included in the budget laws, up to side matters such as spending on some vulnerable groups such as social protection and caring for the poor, although the adoption of the Food Security Law focused on some of those Categories".

The Iraqi parliament recently approved the Food Security Law, which is a mini financial budget that came to remedy the crisis of the delay in approving the budget, in light of the country's need for extensive spending to finance official departments, with exchange doors still waiting for the legislation in force.

Economic researchers believe that Iraq needs a government with full powers to invest the financial abundance, and pump the largest amount of it into the markets to control the prices of goods and food, and move the investment wheel, especially since hundreds of projects still need cash payments to resume their work. A secure economic situation in line with the current situation.   LINK 

Al-Maliki: Repeated Violations Of The Kurdistan Region Harm Relations Between Iraq And Turkey

Posted On2022-06-16 By Sotaliraq  Head of the State of Law Coalition, Nuri al-Maliki, criticized the repeated Turkish violations of Iraqi lands and the Kurdistan Region, which he considered harming relations between the two countries.

Al-Maliki wrote a tweet on Twitter, on Thursday (June 16, 2022), that "violating Iraqi sovereignty by any country is unacceptable, and the government must take measures to stop it."

Al-Maliki added that "the recurrence of Turkish violations on Iraqi lands in the Kurdistan Region and the fall of a number of martyrs and wounded will greatly harm the relations between Iraq and Turkey."

The head of the State of Law coalition, noted that "the repeated attacks call on Iraq to review its position and work to prevent these violations."

It is noteworthy that a Turkish drone targeted a building belonging to Libesha in Sinuni, on Wednesday (June 15, 2022), according to Rudaw's correspondent, who confirmed that the march bombed the headquarters of Libsha in Sinuni district of Sinjar.

This is not the first time that Turkish forces have launched an attack on the Senoni area in Sinjar, and these Turkish forces carry out operations from time to time in that area under the pretext of pursuing PKK fighters and its affiliates, resulting in deaths and injuries.

On April 18, 2022, the Turkish army announced the launch of the “claw-lock” operation in the Afashin, Mateen, and Zab areas on the territory of the Kurdistan Region, against the PKK fighters, which caused great damage to those areas and evacuated a number of villages in them.

In recent months, armed confrontations took place between the Iraqi army forces and the Sinjar Resistance Units fighters in the Sinuni area of ​​Sinjar, killing a number of people and wounding others.

A section of Sinjar residents demonstrated, calling for the withdrawal of the military forces from Sinjar, noting that the occurrence of armed clashes within residential areas poses a great danger to the lives of civilians, and they are calling for the military forces to leave Sinjar.

Disclaimer: All published articles represent the opinion of its authors only    LINK

After News Of His Candidacy... Al-Maliki's Coalition: The Framework Did Not Present Any Personality For The Post Of Prime Minister

Shafaq News/ The Parliamentary State of Law bloc confirmed, on Thursday, that the coordination framework did not present any personality or candidate for the position of Prime Minister.

The representative of the State of Law, Muhammad Hassan, told Shafaq News Agency, "Until yesterday, Wednesday, the coordinating framework did not present any personality or candidate for the position of Prime Minister."

He added that "the periodic meeting of the coordination framework did not raise the issue of a personal nomination for the position of Prime Minister," noting that "the framework is working to form the largest bloc in the parliament to form the new government."

And political circles circulated news of the former prime minister's intention to run for the presidency of the new government.

The representative of the Shiite religious authority, Ali al-Sistani, confirmed, earlier on Thursday, that the supreme religious authority "is present and watching the scene," while noting that "whoever expects the strife to end is more important."

Al-Safi said, "The supreme reference is present and is watching the scene and has warned of many matters related to the country," adding, "Whoever expects the strife to end is more important and we need insight in this matter."

He added that "one of the most dangerous issues is when people's awareness decreases and the demonization of those in control increases," noting that "a nation that closes its ears will fall into the quagmire."  LINK

Al-Maliki Flirts With Al-Sadr And Offers Cooperation

Shafaq News/ The leader of the State of Law coalition, Nuri al-Maliki, expressed, on Thursday, "flexibility" in addressing the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, in an attempt to discourage the latter from insisting on withdrawing from the political process.

Al-Maliki said in a tweet on his Twitter account, which was followed by Shafak News Agency, that "our relationship with Islamic forces, parties and currents, including the brothers in the Sadrist movement, has a great goal and is related to a serious responsibility."

He pointed out that this relationship “imposes us always to be keen on it, and to search for points of convergence, cooperation and integration, which are many, and not intersection and disharmony, or antagonism and exclusion, which is not our approach that we learned from our guiding imams, peace be upon them, nor does it serve our faith, our homeland and our people in this difficult situation."

He added, "We will continue to adhere to this position, and extend our hands to everyone in cooperation with all the benevolent and responsible Islamic and patriotic forces, whether they are inside or outside Parliament, as long as the goals and challenges do not differentiate between us."

Al-Maliki stressed, "Differences, which are simple and not strategic, should not separate us. We may differ in some positions, but cooperation and keenness on unity is the basis and the firm strategy for us."

A source in the coordination framework told Shafak News Agency today, Thursday, that "the coordination framework will begin next week with all forces, as it is hoped that a meeting will be held that includes the framework and its allies with the leaders and leaders of the Sovereignty Alliance and the Kurdistan Democratic Party to reach understandings leading to the formation of a government."

This came after the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, confirmed during his meeting with the Sadrist bloc’s representatives who submitted their resignations from the membership of the House of Representatives that there is no going back in the decision to resign and withdraw from the process, except on the condition that “not to participate in the elections in the event that the corrupt participate in it.”  LINK

Al-Safi Issues A Clarification On "Al-Sistani's Monitoring Of The Political Blockage"

Shafaq News/ The representative of the highest Shiite religious authority, Ali al-Sistani (the legitimate head of the al-Abbas's shrine), Ahmed al-Safi, issued a clarification on Thursday regarding what was stated in his last speech.

Al-Safi said, in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, that "what was contained in his speech at the opening ceremony of the sixth Holy Defense Fatwa Festival, at the al-Abbas's

Al-Sistani's representative added that what he issued "was not under the guidance of the religious authority, and does not express its position on the current political situation."

Al-Safi had confirmed earlier in the day that the supreme reference is present and watching the scene, and warned of many matters related to the country, noting that "whoever expects the end of sedition is delusional, and we need insight in this matter."

This came in a speech delivered by Al-Safi at the "Sixth Cultural Religious Defense Fatwa" festival, which is held by the Abbasid shrine, in the city of Karbala, on the occasion of the anniversary of the fatwa of "sufficient jihad" launched by Al-Sistani to confront ISIS in 2014.   LINK

An Upcoming Meeting Of The Coordination Framework With Al-Halbousi And The Kurdistan Democratic Party To Resolve The Replacements Of The Sadrist Bloc

Shafaq News/ A source in the coordination framework said, on Thursday, that the framework and its allies will hold a meeting with Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi in the coming days, to resolve the Sadrist bloc's resigned replacements.

The source told Shafaq News Agency, "After the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, announced that he would not back down from his decision to withdraw from the political process and the resignation of his deputies, the matter imposed a new reality in the digital equation for all forces."

And he indicated that "the replacement MPs (the biggest loser) who were nominated in the same electoral district that recorded the victory of the resigned deputy, which will positively affect the weights of the various political forces, and in the face of that will complicate the framework and its allies (the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Azm Alliance, and some independents) in the coming days. A meeting with Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi to resolve the controversy over this and to set a date for the session to take the constitutional oath for the replacement representatives of the Sadrist bloc.

The source explained that "preliminary information indicates that a change will occur in the total of the seats of the political forces after naming the replacement deputies, as the State of Law coalition led by Nuri al-Maliki will have 40-41 deputies, the Al-Fateh Alliance 44 deputies, the State Forces Alliance 15 deputies, and the Extension Movement 17 deputies, and thus the 73 parliamentary seats that al-Sadr had in the House of Representatives are distributed.

He pointed out that "the coordinating framework will begin next week with all forces, as it is hoped that a meeting will be held that includes the framework and its allies with the leaders and leaders of the Sovereignty Alliance and the Kurdistan Democratic Party to reach understandings that lead to the formation of a strong government that represents the aspirations of the people."

The source confirmed that "the framework has some candidates to head the government, and their names will be presented during the meeting, but if everyone agrees to keep Mustafa Al-Kazemi's government, it may be possible to renew a second term for him."

He concluded by saying, "Despite al-Sadr's withdrawal from the political process, the coordination framework will discuss with the leader of the Sadrist movement about his candidate for prime minister, as a matter of advice, as well as informing al-Sadr of their movement."

In turn, a source in the Independent High Electoral Commission confirmed to Shafaq News, "The commission has not received any letter from the General Secretariat of the House of Representatives regarding the resignation of the Sadrist bloc's deputies, and if it receives any letter from the Secretariat or the presidency of the Council, it will respond within a record time."

And, "The Electoral Commission provided the House of Representatives in December 2022 with the names of the winning and losing candidates for the electoral districts and the votes that each candidate obtained in the October 2021 elections."

The leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, had a meeting yesterday evening, Wednesday, with representatives of the Sadrist bloc, who submitted their resignations from the membership of the House of Representatives at the request of their leader al-Sadr, who stressed during the meeting that there is no going back in the decision to resign and withdraw from the process, except on the condition that “not to participate in the elections.” If the corrupt participate in it."   LINK