Friday, October 28, 2022

Iraq snapshot

Friday, October 28, 2022.  Iraq forms a government.


Big news out of Iraq unless you're BLOOMBERG NEWS.  If you're BLOOMBERG, you run with "Iraq Appoints New Oil Minister After Yearlong Political Impasse."  It certainly shows you where there priorities are.  



Mohammed Shia al Sudani is prime minister of Iraq.  Born in 1970, the 52-year-old is the youngest person to hold the office created after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.  The median age in Iraq is 21.  REUTERS reminds that Mohammed "previously served as Iraq’s human rights minister as well as minister of labor and social affairs, will head the new government."  Sinan Mahmoud (THE NATIONAL) explains:

Descended from a well-known tribe in the southern province of Maysan, Mr Al Sudani, 52, started his political career after 2003 as a member of the Shiite Dawa Party.

From 2004 to 2009, he served as member of the provincial council in his home town and as provincial governor for a year.

He ran for election with the State of Law Coalition led by former prime minister Nouri Al Maliki and has won three terms in parliament since 2014.

Among other posts, he served as minister of human rights from 2010 to 2014 and minister of labour and social affairs from 2014 to 2018.




Al-Sudani is taking over from Mustafa al-Kadhimi who was serving as an interim prime minister after widespread anti-government protests shook the country and triggered early elections.

The political deadlock since then has done little to quell public anger over what many see as widespread and rampant corruption.

"The epidemic of corruption that has affected all aspects of life is more deadly than the corona pandemic and has been the cause of many economic problems, weakening the state's authority, increasing poverty, unemployment, and poor public services," al-Sudani said in parliament.

Since Nouri al-Maliki, every prime minister has promised to fight corruption and every prime minister has left office without making any impact on that front.


The US State Dept issued the following:

           Formation of Iraqi Government

Press Statement

Ned Price, Department Spokesperson

October 27, 2022

The United States congratulates Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on forming a new Iraqi government.  We look forward to working with him and his government on the range of our shared interests, from improving services for the Iraqi people to ensuring a safe, stable, and sovereign Iraq as outlined in our Strategic Framework Agreement.

The Iraqi people deserve economic opportunity, an end to corruption, and improved public services.  The United States welcomes Prime Minister al-Sudani’s commitment to bring weapons under the control of official and legitimate state institutions.  We share the Iraqi government’s interest in preserving stability and security.

The United States stands ready to work with the Iraqi government and people to confront Iraq’s challenges together, from improving respect for human rights to addressing climate change and improving economic opportunities for a growing population. Iraq has a partner in the United States as it moves forward with reforms.


UNAMI issued the following:

Baghdad, 27 October 2022 - The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) welcomes the confirmation of Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani’s government by the Council of Representatives. The swift completion of his cabinet is now an essential next step.

The new government faces many serious challenges that require decisive action. These will include addressing Iraq’s systematic corruption; implementing desperately needed reforms and delivering adequate services to all citizens; diversifying the economy; encouraging the meaningful participation of women and youth; tackling the effects of climate change; ending impunity and making perpetrators accountable; and reining in non-state armed actors while asserting the State’s authority.

A strong resolve, across the spectrum, to provide concrete solutions will prove vital. The United Nations reaffirms its steadfast commitment to supporting the government and people of Iraq.




Along with his age,  Mohammed is also significant in another way.  He was named prime minister-designate October 15th.  Yesterday, he became prime minister by getting his Cabinet of 21 ministers approved by Parliament (two spots remain vacant).  That's 12 days after being named the designate.  The Constitution gives the designate 30 days.  Mohammed has set a new record for fastest formation.  21 is what most outlets are saying.  Most.  KURDISTAN 24 reports:

His cabinet consists of 22 ministers, mainly representing the Administering the State Coalition's parties that formed the government.

There are currently two Kurdish ministers in the cabinet. Fuad Hussein, representing the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) member, was elected as Iraq's foreign minister for the second time. 

Khalid Shwani of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) became Iraq's justice minister. 

Al-Sudani's cabinet has three female ministers, Finance Minister Taif Sami, Minister of Migration and Displacement Evan Jabro, and Hyam Al Yassri of the telecommunication ministry of communications.  


AL-MONITOR lists the following Cabinet heads:


  • Health: Salih Mahdi
  • Finance: Taif Sami
  • Interior: Abdul Amir Al-Shimmery
  • Water Resources:  Aoun Diab
  • Electricity: Ziad Ali Fadhil Sudani
  • Oil: Hayyan Abdul Ghani
  • Youth and Sports: Ahmad Al-Mubarqa’
  • Agriculture: Abbas Jabr
  • Transport: Razzaq Muhaibis
  • Labor and Social Affairs: Ahmad Al-Asadi
  • Communications: Hoyam Abboud
  • Higher Education: Na’im Al-Abboudi
  • Planning: Muhammad Tamim
  • Culture and Antiquities: Ahmad Fakkak Ahmad
  • Defense: Thabit Muhammad
  • Education: Ibrahim Namis
  • Industry: Khalid Battal
  • Trade: Athir Daowd Salman
  • Justice: Khalid Shawani
  • Foreign Affairs: Fuad Hussein
  • Immigration: Ivan Faiq
  

The most recognizable name on the list to the west may be Fuad Hussein.  





He will continue as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, a post he assumed in 2020, and he was previously the Minister of Finance.  A Kurd, he is a member of the KDP.  In 2018, the KDP nominated him for President of Iraq (the post went to the PUK's Barham Saleh).  

RUDAW reports, "The cabinet consists of 23 ministers but only 21 were approved as Sudani did not present any names for environment and construction ministries. All members of the cabinet were later sworn in."  Qassim Abdul-Zahra (AP) also goes with 21, "A majority of the 253 lawmakers present voted to appoint 21 ministers, with two posts -- the Construction and Housing Ministry and the Environment Ministry -- remaining undecided."  TRT states, "Of the 21 ministries nominated, 12 posts go to Shia supported by the Coordination Framework, six to Sunni leaders, two to Kurds and one to a Christian woman — one of three females in the new government."

The formation of the government came one year and 17 days after the elections (October 10, 2021).  

For months, cleric and cult leader Moqtada al-Sadr had attempted to form a government and repeatedly failed.  He had been hailed by the western press as a "kingmaker."  He'd never been it before and, turns out, he wasn't it this go round either.  Will the western press be issuing corrections?  Amending previously published news reports -- not opinion pieces, news reports?  Of course, they won't.

Moqtada had one tantrum after another.  He overplayed his hand when he stomped his feet and ordered members of his political bloc to immediately withdraw from Parliament.  Fatty just knew that everyone would beg him to have his ministers return.  Didn't happen.  They resigned and his bluff was called.  The second biggest vote getters replaced Moqtada's MPs.  He's not represented in Parliament and, guess what, his people also hold no ministry.

From kingmaker to failed cult leader. 


In his speech prior to the vote, Sudani described the economic and political priorities of his government.

“The world is witnessing tremendous political and economic changes and conflicts, which will add new challenges to our country,” Sudani said. “We will ... do our utmost to succeed in addressing these challenges."

 

Analysts say that despite breaking the deadlock, the new government is set to face a number of obstacles.

“The fulfilment of the enormous expectations outlined in the Ministerial Programme will be one of the primary obstacles this government will encounter,” Research Associate at Chatham House, Hayder al-Shakeri, told Rudaw English on Friday.

“For instance, fighting corruption throughout and organizing early elections one year later. This will not occur while attempting to maintain the satisfaction of the political elite who have empowered Sudani to become Prime Minister,” Shakeri argues. 


Another obstacle may be protests.  The October Revolution will be in the streets demanding accountability.  As usual, Moqtada will try to piggy-back on to the movement.  He'll have to struggle for that because they refused to back down last go round -- on his demands that males and females not be protesting at the same site, for example.  

Winding down . . .


BROS is playing around the world and, in the US, you can also stream it -- rental or purchase.  It's a comedy classic and the best film of 2022.







The following sites updated:

 

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