Iraq deadline to appoint PM looms

[DinarThug]

Conscious / 170 deputies reject the resignation of the President of the Republic

 

Posted by Iraqi media news agency / conscious

December 26, 2019

 

 

Conscious Baghdad
On Thursday, 170 signatories of the specifications of the next prime minister, Barham Salih, resigned. The deputies said in a statement received by (Iraqi Media News Agency / INA) that we “signatories to the characteristics of the next prime minister. National and popular options are the one who has the final say in the form and features of the next prime minister, away from partisanship and quotas, in a manner consistent with the aspirations of the Iraqi people and the steps for reform and change. In the popular aspirations and reach us to safety. "

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Conscious / victory rejects Saleh's resignation and calls for its withdrawal and the continuation of his responsibilities

Posted by Iraqi media news agency / conscious

December 26, 2019

 

 

Conscious / Baghdad

 

Today, Thursday, the victory coalition rejected the resignation of the President of the Republic, Barham Salih, while calling for its withdrawal and the continuation of his constitutional and patriotic responsibilities. He asserted in a statement received by (Iraqi Information News Agency) that "national and popular interests require political forces to support solutions that meet the aspirations of the people, and leave a mindset Treachery, bullying, and domination. ”He stressed“ the necessity of making a fundamental change to the current equation of government in a manner that establishes a temporary phase capable of lifting the country out of its crisis, and that insisting that this equation remain will lead to the unknown, and the forces that refuse to undertake real reforms will be borne fully responsible In front of God, the homeland and history. ”

link

[DinarThug]

LINK

Harb: Saleh's resignation is not effective until seven days after the date it was deposited in Parliament

 

 

 

17:15 - 26/12/2019

 

 

On Thursday, legal expert Tariq Harb confirmed that the resignation of President Barham Saleh will not take effect until seven days after the date of its deposit in the House of Representatives, and between the Speaker of Parliament will replace Saleh because there is no deputy for the latter.

Harb said in a statement to "The Information", that "Barham Salih's resignation will be in effect only after seven days from the date it was deposited to the House of Representatives according to the law." Noting that "after seven days have passed since the resignation was submitted without withdrawing it, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Al-Halbousi will take his place." 

He added that "the speaker of parliament will replace the president of the republic because there is no deputy for Barham Salih," noting that "the speaker of parliament will manage the presidency of the republic for 30 days until the selection of a new president."

Today, Thursday, the MP from the Construction Alliance, Hanin Qadu, revealed that the Alliance and the Victory Alliance and the United States of America exerted great pressure towards the President of the Republic not to pass the governor of Basra, Asaad Al-Eidani, to the position of Prime Minister, while Saleh called for his intention to resign from the presidency.

The President of the Republic, Barham Salih, had apologized, today, Thursday, to assigning the candidate of the Construction Alliance, the governor of Basra, Asaad Al-Eidani, while he laid down his resignation in the hands of the House of Representatives. 

[DinarThug]

LINK

Al-Hashemi: Saleh's resignation will lead to the collapse of the political process

 

 

 

16:52 - 26/12/2019

 

Political analyst Wasiq al-Hashemi confirmed on Thursday that the resignation of the President of the Republic will lead to the collapse of the political process in Iraq, indicating that the matter will push the protesters to put more pressure on the resignation of Al-Halbousi and the dissolution of Parliament.

Hashemi said to / the information /, that "the political process in Iraq is going toward complexity and escalation more than was expected from the political blocs." He added that "Saleh's statement came as a result of combined factors, including the pressure of the political blocs and external pressure and the Iraqi street," noting that "if the President of the Republic goes ahead with his resignation, the scene will be greatly complicated."

He explained that "Saleh's resignation will strengthen the position of the demonstrators and push them to put more pressure on the resignation of Parliament Speaker Mohamed Al-Halbousi and dissolve the parliament." The President of the Republic of Barham Salih Lahouh, today, Thursday, resigned and rejected the candidate, Asaad Al-Eidani, for prime minister. 

[horsesoldier]

Collapse imminent ?  

[DoD]

Here’s a thought for you Salih, do your job an quit worrying about the Iranians. Seems to be the Iraqi way of governing, when things gets tough just quit or run to Iran. 
Let me suggest a long phone call to Donald Trump to get a feel of what a real president is supposed to be....

[WheresmyRV?]

What a mess!!!! Uughhhh....

[DinarThug]

LINK

In the document .. The President of the Republic apologizes for assigning Al-Aidani and places his resignation in front of Parliament

 

 

 

 

15:27 - 26/12/2019

 

The President of the Republic announced, on Thursday, his willingness to put his resignation before the members of the House of Representatives, while he offered his apology for assigning the construction bloc Asaad Al-Eidani to head the next government.

 

 

            

Translation.....

 

Peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you Your book numbered (۱۳۹۰) dated (۲۳/۱۲/۲۰۱۹) on the identification of the largest number, and confirming the diagnosis (building block) As the most honorable bloc, and as I received a book from the Building Block that includes the candidacy of Professor Asaad Abd al-Amir al-Aidani to the presidency of the Council of Ministers, and with our adherence to the constitutional text as the ruling ceiling in state administration, I would like to point out that my national responsibility in this historical circumstance is enthusiasm, and in light of the entitlements The right of the protest movement imposed on our people necessitates that we look at To the supreme national interest before looking at personal and political considerations. The supreme interests of the country, which, upon assuming the responsibility as President of the Republic, swore to protect and defend them, today impose a national responsibility on the President to support an understanding about the candidate for the presidency of the next government. Which requires the interest to be a factor that calms the situation and is not controversial and responds to the will of the Iraqi people who are Turn the legitimacy Hmie authorities. I have had a series of consultations with parliamentary and political forces, and with youth, union, academic, religious, and social activities, on specifications.

A signed request was submitted by (۱۷۹) a deputy in which I sensed the characteristics of the prime minister and all of this, taking into account the responsibility of the President of the Republic towards his people, his national responsibility, the harmony of the country’s stability and safety, and based on my keenness to inject blood and protect the civil Muslim, and with all respect And appreciation to Professor Asaad Al-Eidani, I apologize for his nomination as a candidate for (the building block). As he reached the Presidency of the Republic several conversations about the largest number of parliamentary contradictions contradicting each other, I sent the Presidency of the House of Representatives / Office of the First Vice-President on ۲۰۱۹/۱۲/16 the book numbered (M.R.) indicating that the six (16) political alliances The tenth listed in the attached lists is attached hereto in the first session of the House of Representatives in the most numerous parliamentary bloc. On this basis, Mr. Adel Abdul-Mahdi was assigned to form the government. This book was followed by another book, delivered to us by hand, on ۲۰۱۹/۹/۲۲ bearing the number (M4) on ۲۰۱۸/۹/۱۹ indicating that the building block in the largest number of parliamentary blocs note that this book was not sent to the Presidency of the Republic on the aforementioned date and was not recorded It is incumbent upon us at that time, and we did not elect a president at the time, and if he was appointed to the presidency of the republic, the candidate for the formation of the government would be presented by the building block and not by the 16 (ten) allied entities. After we sent these notes, Mr. Speaker sent another book with the number (Passed ۱۳۹۰) On ۲۰۱۹/۱۲ / نص its text on the topic under discussion was Cherk To our book numbered (passed ۲۶۹4) in ۲۰۱۸/۶/۱۶), which means that the largest number of parliamentary blocs in the College of Building is concerned with the nomination, which contradicts the books of the House of Representatives (۲۵۳) in ۲۰۱۸/۱۰ and ۱۳۳۸) in: ۲۰۱۹/۱۲ / ۱ as a truth

In the scope of my duty to protect and protect the constitution, reference must be made to Article 17 of the Constitution, which obliges the President of the Republic to preserve the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Iraq, as well as Article 76 that obliges the President to appoint a candidate The most parliamentary bloc when forming a cabinet, without the right to object. And since this conservative position on the current candidacy may be considered a violation of a constitutional text, I therefore put my readiness to resign from the position of the President of the Republic in front of the members of the House of Representatives, to decide, in the light of their officials, as representatives of the people what they see appropriate, so that there is no good to be promoted in a position or position that is not in Serve people and guarantee their rights. . . Therefore, I affirm that political and parliamentary movement must be a permanent expression of the general popular will, and the requirements of social security and peace, and of entitlement to provide a rational provision that provides security and rises to the level of people's aspirations and sacrifices and annihilated from the rhetoric of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (peace be upon him) saying May God have mercy on her matter. I have truly revived and nullified falsehood, refuted injustice and established justice. "Justice is what we seek judgment and its purpose, which is the ultimate goal of the ruler and the position of official and sovereign responsibility. He deserves the sons of Shaida after all the sacrifices that are concerned with preserving the homeland and protecting the rights of citizens Iraq, peace and security and the Spell of the Iraqi people, and God reconcile. 

[DinarThug]

LINK

Nassif: The President of the Republic wants to withdraw Iraq to international custody or emergency

 

 

 

13:06 - 26/12/2019
 

The deputy of the State of Law coalition, Alia Nassif, Thursday, accused the President of the Republic, Barham Saleh, of wanting to withdraw Iraq to the international trusteeship or the emergency government.

Nassif said in a tweet on "Twitter" that was seen by him / the information, that "the political blocs must support a candidate acceptable to all to block the way for the President of the Republic and prevent him from withdrawing Iraq to the international custody or the emergency government."

The member of the House of Representatives, Unit Jumaili, had demanded earlier today, Thursday, the president and members of the Federal Supreme Court to condemn the President of the Republic, Barham Salih, for his “perjury” with the constitutional oath and violating the constitution.

[justchecking123]

Seems Salih's not a tool, at least.

 

Good on Iraq, they need martyrs who aren't just common citizens.

 

 

Edited December 26, 2019 by justchecking123

[DinarThug]

LINK

Sadiqin accuses "parties" of trying to reject all candidates for this purpose

 

 

 

12:03 - 26/12/2019

 

 

On Thursday, the Sadikoun parliamentary bloc accused unnamed political parties of trying to reject all candidates to keep chaos in the country, considering that the aim of rejecting the names is to undermine the work of state institutions.

The bloc's deputy, Mohamed Al-Baldawi, said in a statement to "Information", that "some political parties are trying hard to reject all names to undermine the work of state institutions and maintain chaos and confusion."

Al-Baldawi added, “Some will reject all names, not just for obstructing the institutional work and searching for political gains,” noting that “some of the names that presented respected and professional personalities and rejected them came for political ends.”

Official sources said today, Thursday, that the name of the new prime minister will be delivered to the President of the Republic, Barham Salih, within the next 48 hours.

[justchecking123]

2 minutes ago, justchecking123 said:

Seems Salih's not a tool, at least.

 

Good on Iraq, they need martyrs who aren't just common citizens.

 

 

And to the person who laughed at this reality check...

 

If politicians/PTB don't stand up in Iraq for the common good, you won't get paid for your investment/lottery ticket.

 

Ponderous... 

[DinarThug]

LINK

Repeat the 2018 scenario ... Al-Sadr and Al-Amiri camps agree to choose a consensual prime minister

 

 

26th December, 2019

A coalition of leaders led by Muqtada al-Sad, and Al-Fateh led by Hadi Al-Amiri, agreed that any prime minister should be consensual, along the lines of the mechanism for selecting the resigned prime minister, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, in September last year.

A leader in the Al-Fateh Alliance said, "An understanding took place between the leader of the coalition, Hadi al-Amiri, and the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, that the choice of the next prime minister should come in agreement, that is, in a manner that is neither victorious nor defeated in the parliamentary votes." He stressed, "There are several names offered today, including the name of the current governor of Basra, Asaad Al-Eidani, who faces reservations from the President of the Republic, Barham Salih, and negotiations are still ongoing." "If the other parties agree to Al-Aidani, the position of the governor of Basra will go to a figure nominated by the Sadrists within a prior understanding," he said, noting that "passing the new election law was among the understandings between the two camps."

He added, "In the event that Al-Aidani cannot overcome the current reservations, most of which are due to a previous ruling from the street, the name of the intelligence chief Mustafa Al-Kazemi is still on the list as a good candidate, as well as the president of Baghdad University, Imad Al-Husseini, and the former minister in the first transitional government in Iraq. After 2003, Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi, a nomination that can be considered supported by Barham Salih, and the civil and Sadrist currents in Iraq.

This information was confirmed by a source close to Muqtada al-Sadr, who said that "the September 2018 scenario by agreeing to withdraw the fuse of the crisis and choosing a consensual prime minister within a comprehensive settlement to form the government, is now the closest to verification," adding that "Hadi al-Amiri told Sadr that no imposition had been imposed Candidate who rejects or passes against his will.

[DinarThug]

16 minutes ago, justchecking123 said:

And to the person who laughed at this reality check...

If politicians/PTB don't stand up in Iraq for the common good, you won't get paid for your investment/lottery ticket.

Ponderous... 

 

Ur All Good JC123 - Along With The Other 3 Members Who Left Comments Further Up The Page !  

 

 

The Laughing ‘Up Votes’ Are From CNN - And It’s Just The Way That A Clown Gives Out Plusses !  

 

 

Although I Do Sometimes Think Of This ‘Investment’ As Pretty Much Of A Joke !  

 

      
 

Edited December 26, 2019 by DinarThug

[DinarThug]

LINK

Others accuse building parties of putting pressure on the President of the Republic

 

13:37 - 26/12/2019

 

On Thursday, the parliamentary bloc of the Alliance of Allies accused political parties within the building coalition by pressuring President of the Republic Barham Saleh to pass a popular figure unacceptable to the prime minister, stressing its refusal to accept any of the consuming and partisan personalities of the prime minister.

The representative of the bloc, Ali Saadoun al-Lami, said in a statement to "Al-Maalouma", that "all the names submitted to the prime minister are party names that are consumed and cannot be passed within the parliament."

Al-Lami called on the political forces to "stop putting pressure on the president of the republic to pass a certain personality to the satisfaction of the Iraqi street," noting that "other people have not and will not allow any partisan character to pass to the presidency of the government."

The deputy for the Al-Nasr coalition, Sahhan Shanoun Al -Aqili, revealed in a previous statement to “Al-Maalouma”, about the support of Al-Bena’s alliances and other candidates for the prime minister’s candidate, Asaad Al-Eidani, noting that others would vote for Al-Eidani.

Meanwhile, Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed newspaper revealed today, Thursday, the occurrence of communication between the leader of the Sadrist movement , Muqtada al-Sadr, and the head of the Al-Fath Alliance, Hadi al-Amiri, regarding the candidate for prime minister.

[DinarThug]

ARTICLE 75, Iraqi Constitution

https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Iraq_2005.pdf?lang=en

 

FIRST
The President of the Republic shall have the right to submit his resignation in writing to the Speaker of the Council of Representatives, and it shall be considered effective after seven (7) days from the date of its submission to the Council of Representatives.

SECOND
The Vice President shall replace the President in case of his absence

THIRD
The Vice President shall replace the President of the Republic in the event that the post of the President becomes vacant for any reason whatsoever. The Council of Representatives must elect a new President within a period not to exceed Thirty (30) days from the date of the vacancy.

FOURTH
In case the post of the President of the Republic becomes vacant, the Speaker of the Council of Representatives shall replace the President of the Republic in case he does not have a Vice President, on the condition that a new President is elected during a period not to exceed thirty days from the date of the vacancy and in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

[DinarThug]

Iraq and Lebanon rose up against corruption and Iran's influence ... so what should America have to offer?

 

- 8 Hours Ago

 

 

An article in Foreign Policy magazine stated that protesters in Iraq and Lebanon revolted against Iranian influence, sectarianism and corruption, and that the US Congress should provide "conditional" aid to force the governments of both countries to respond to the demands of their peoples.

The article - written by former US Middle East envoy Dennis Ross and fellow researcher on Arab politics, Dana Stroll - states that the street demonstrators are turning to the political class in both countries and the Iranian government.
The authors say that enough has been overburdened by people in Lebanon and Iraq with mismanagement of the economy, sterile rule, and corruption among political elites. They also blame their miserable conditions for Iranian influence and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards ’exploitation of their countries by funding and arming unaccountable militias.

 

Maximum pressure

The US President Donald Trump views the protests in Lebanon and Iraq and the widespread riots in Iran as proving the effectiveness of what his administration calls the policy of "extreme pressure" it is exercising on the Iranian economy.

Ross and Stroll - both researchers at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy - see critics of the US administration skeptical that the policy will pay off, but they believe it will put the Iranian government in trouble, which will prompt it to fuel conflict in the region rather than surrender.

However, neither the Trump administration nor its critics have put forward "convincing" proposals on how to deal with the current developments in Iraq and Lebanon, so the American administration's sufficiency in providing "rhetorical" support to the Iraqi and Lebanese masses, and its request to the security services in the two countries to stop abusing the demonstrators, but reflects the maximum limits of its ability to act .

As for the critics, they may be more negative, as they fear that the increased involvement of the United States in Lebanon and Iraq may distract it from focusing on opposing Iran, and more than that, its involvement may exacerbate the situation in the two Arab countries based on the Trump administration's "brutal" record in implementing its policies.

The behavior and critics of the Trump administration and its critics alike are undoubtedly due to the “miserable” experiences of the United States in its endeavor to catalyze change in the Middle East, according to the article. 

Advanced Defense

The authors note that the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has consistently described Syria and Lebanon as "the advanced defense" of Tehran.

In their view, Tehran took advantage of the United States’s pitfalls and power gaps in the region to extend its influence and its “oppressive” methods beyond the Iranian border, and as a result of that, Iran appeared to have control over leaders and governments in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, and achieved its goal of dictating its policies and forcing its proxies such as a party God, the Badr Organization, and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq in the governing bodies to ensure their influence in the long term.

Ross and Stroll say that US policymakers have spoken boldly and publicly about the need for Iran to retract its policies in the region, but they have never proposed an effective strategy with appropriate funding to achieve that goal.

However, the widespread protests against corrupt and weak governments and "arbitrary" and "unaccountable" security forces are all indications that Iranian gains may not be so entrenched, but may have had the effect of infection even on Iran itself, according to the opinion of the authors of the article.

Perhaps the participation of appreciative masses of Iraqi and Lebanese Shiites in the protests against sectarian rule and the brutal hand of Tehran exposes Iran's weakness and the difficulty of maintaining its regional position, as Ross and Stroll claim.

Soft power

Moreover, the “soft power” strategy pursued by Iran to take advantage of its sectarian relations with the Shiites in the Arab-majority areas in order to extend its influence through cultural, religious, media and economic projects seems - as the authors of the article asserted - to have dissipated, as it is linked to corruption and spoilers from Leaders, economic mismanagement and bright security forces.

Iran currently has few tools or resources in light of its economy, which suffers from pressure and mismanagement, which requires the United States to be able to combat it more effectively.

And now American policy should focus on what Washington can offer the region and distinguish its style from Iran's "violent" vision.

Among the human beings - which Ross and Stroll see - is that the United States actually has technical expertise and international relations - particularly its cooperation with allies and credible NGOs - to help tackle corruption and promote the rule of law, reform facilities and services, organize training courses, and develop infrastructure , Reviving the economy.

In sum, the partnership with the United States provides - according to the article - the possibility of establishing "viable" scientific, educational, commercial and technical exchanges, "which the protesters want and what Washington can provide constructively."

Ross and Stroll concluded that Iran does not have any of these programs, and that the United States now has an opportunity to present what Iran cannot give to the Iraqi and Lebanese people who yearn for real change "and will not rest until they get what they want."

Al Jazeera

link

[DinarThug]

5 minutes ago, DinarThug said:

Iraq and Lebanon rose up against corruption and Iran's influence ... so what should America have to offer?

 

LINK

FP: Washington can offer the Iraqis and the Lebanese what the bankrupt Tehran cannot

 

 

25th December, 2019

Financial and political bankruptcy Tehran is now suffering, due to the US sanctions on it, which made it unable to continue to protect "the corrupt from its politicians and militias" in Iraq and Lebanon, says Foreign Policy magazine.

In the recent wave of demonstrations that struck Lebanon and Iraq, Tehran was the common factor between them, and the name of Iran was associated with the corruption of leaders, so corruption became a trademark of the Khamenei regime, so wherever corruption came to these countries, Iran was also dissolved. And with Tehran subjected to great economic pressure due to sanctions and mismanagement, its resources became unable to continue to finance and support its practices and policies in both Lebanon and Iraq, and it did not give the citizens there anything, and it did not even provide for the people of its people who demanded freedom other than the utmost brutal repression.

The report, prepared by former US diplomat Dennis Ross and Dana Stroll of the Washington Institute, called on the United States to intervene and compete more and effectively in order to take advantage of this, and to focus its policies currently on "what Washington can offer the region" and make it more like a milestone for America in the face of Iran which has become morally and financially bankrupt. The report indicated that the US administration is required to muster the necessary support from the Republican and Democratic parties in Congress to complete this matter and make a fundamental shift in its policy for the stability of the Middle East region.

The report called on the United States to establish strategic partnerships with the Lebanese and Iraqis through a "legislative framework" by updating agreements with the two countries and setting up a new road map for support and participation, for example deepening the partnership to more than Washington's focus on supporting the Lebanese armed forces only. She noted that the strengthening of these agreements through Congress must be linked to clear timetables for the presidential elections, with the aim of sending an important signal to the region away from sharp fluctuations and mixed messages from the US administration.

The proposals called for not neglecting the popular claims in both countries, linking support and reform to achieving these claims, and intensifying the support allocated to the Civil Ministry, and what could be strengthened by this is the presence of sufficient experience with the American agencies in dealing with such assistance and providing technical expertise in them as well, This is what Iran cannot provide in Lebanon or Iraq. The report stressed that the United States has an opportunity to present what Iran cannot provide, by sensing the desire for change that the two peoples are leading in Iraq and Lebanon, and that conditions in these countries may not stabilize without real change taking place in them.

[WheresmyRV?]

One must wonder at this point is when does the US and the UN step in and say enough is enough and they put in their own government.  Them fools do not know how to run their country, let alone govern their own people.

[horsesoldier]

What does the USA HAVE TO OFFER ???

 

Well for starters we’ve got how many Fast Food franchises available???? Bazillions !!!!!! 

 

Then there’s additional  job creation when everyone becomes overweight & diabetic...Win Win !!

[new york kevin]

1 hour ago, WheresmyRV? said:

One must wonder at this point is when does the US and the UN step in and say enough is enough and they put in their own government.  Them fools do not know how to run their country, let alone govern their own people.

Wheresmyrv: The point of the protests by the people is that they want an end to the culture of corruption in Iraq and freedom from outside influences. Here in the states we use to call that Nationalism. See it is a good thing.

[DinarThug]

LINK

Deputy: If Al-Halbousi accepts the resignation of the President of the Republic, the parliament will be peace

 

 

 

20:03 - 26/12/2019

 

The deputy of the Saeron Alliance, Sabah Al-Akili, Thursday, warned against the collapse of the political process and the dissolution of Parliament, against the backdrop of the resignation of President Barham Saleh.

Al-Ugaili told / to the information: "The acceptance by the Parliament of the resignation of the President of the Republic, Barham Salih, means that we will read peace in Parliament and thus the dismissal of the Speaker of Parliament, Muhammad Al-Halbousi."

He added, "The style of my arms has grave consequences for the political scene in general and for the government in particular." Noting that we are in "other people, we will never vote for Saleh's resignation."

Earlier in the day, President Barham Saleh apologized for assigning the building block candidate, Asaad Al-Eidani, to head the government, confirming his personal willingness to resign from the post of President of the Republic.

[jcfrag]

As long as Iran is running the show in Iraq, the Iraqi currency auctions will never stop. At the risk of sounding spiteful and retaliatory.... I’m thinking snipers bullets landing in the commanding Quds Force heads would be a welcome event for all concerned. All of their meetings with Iraqi officials are always conducted through the back door. No wonder Iraqis hate that disease called Iranian militia....  Granted, what’s good enough for the Iraqi protestors is good enough for Quds Force leadership!

Edited December 27, 2019 by jcfrag

[DinarThug]

Iran's proxies are moving to betray Saleh after his candidate is rejected

- 15 Minutes Ago

 

 

BAGHDAD - Iran's agents launched a fierce campaign against Iraqi President Barham Salih, which amounted to his treachery, due to his refusal to accept candidates backed by Tehran to head the government and his refusal to submit to the fullness of Iran and its political arms in Iraq.

On Thursday, the Iraqi "Building" coalition accused the country's president, Barham Saleh, of "violating the constitution and perjury", calling on parliament to take legal measures against him on the background of this.

The "construction" alliance is led by the Shiite duo close to Iran, former prime minister and leader of the "State of Law" coalition Nuri al-Maliki, and leader of the "open" coalition Hadi al-Amiri.

Earlier Thursday, Iraqi President Barham Saleh apologized for assigning the candidate of the "construction" coalition, the current Basra governor, Asaad al-Eidani, to form a new government, and he said he preferred to resign over a candidate who did not have the support of the demonstrators.

Those close to Saleh say that the president prefers to listen to the public’s voice at this stage, despite the great Iranian threats, some of which affect his life and members of his family.

Observers believe that Saleh succeeded in delivering a sudden blow to the parties and the parliament at the same time, and it seemed clear that the Iraqi president had chosen to stand with the people, and that was stated in his letter that the parliament may seek to postpone the consideration of his resignation until the parties find a way out of these repercussions, This can be difficult to guess.

The coalition said that it had provided "the evidence that is beyond doubt as the largest number of parliamentary blocs, which we adopted in presenting our candidate to the President of the Republic who had pledged to assign him to form a government."

He added, "But we were surprised by the president's insistence on violating the constitution and not assigning the candidate of the largest bloc, on the pretext of rejecting the candidate from some political parties."

He continued: "We renew our full commitment to constitutional contexts, and we categorically reject any justifications or process of circumventing the constitution."

He said that "violating the constitution from the side that is supposed to be his protector, means pushing the country into chaos that serves only foreign parties that lie in wait for evil in Iraq and its people, who strongly reject dictations from any party, and impose the policy of fait accompli and the arms and overlook the constitutional institutions."

The coalition, which occupies about 150 out of 329 seats in parliament, continued by saying that "violating the constitution and refusing to assign the prime minister according to constitutional contexts, will lead to results that contradict the demands of the demonstrators and the general public in achieving security and stability, so that the process of implementing the demands of peaceful demonstrators begins."

And Abizaid: "The House of Representatives must take legal measures against the President of the Republic to break his oath and violate the constitution."

For its part, launched the Iraqi "Hezbollah Brigades" close to Iran, a sharp attack on President Barham Saleh, after he refused to assign the three "construction" candidates to head the government.

The Kataeb (affiliated with the popular crowd) stated, in a statement, that the country entered into a suffocating crisis, "one of the reasons for its complication, the suspicious deal of the President of the Republic, by violating the constitution after refusing to perform his mission and his constitutional duty to assign the figure nominated by the largest bloc of the Prime Minister."

The statement accused Saleh of "submitting to American dictates and the pressure of suspicious parties working to use the demonstrations to impose their will."

The brigades called on the political forces to confront what they described as "irresponsible actions of the president of the republic after violating the constitution."

She called for the speedy selection of an acceptable and non-controversial national figure for the head of government, and for not allowing any party to impose figures known for its currency to the American.

Al-Eidani is the third candidate presented by the "construction" coalition, after Saleh refused to assign two other candidates who were not supported by the protesters, and they are Parliament member Muhammad Shi'a Al-Sudani and Minister of Higher Education in the resigned government Qusay Al-Suhail.

Last Thursday, the constitutional deadline for assigning a candidate to form the next government ended, but the presidency of the Republic set last Sunday, the last day of the deadline, without counting the holidays within the official deadline.

And members of the Iraqi parliament from various political blocs announced their rejection of the resignation of President Barham Salih from his post.

The deputies called on President Saleh to assume legal and constitutional responsibility at the current stage.

Representative Abboud al-Issawi, a member of the State of Law coalition during a press conference with representatives of different political blocs, said that “in this difficult circumstance and in the atmosphere of demands that all mass demonstrators throughout Iraq advocate for reform and fighting corruption, and adherence to values and the constitution, there are struggles in identifying who is assigned In the next government.

Al-Issawi added, "In this atmosphere, we say to the President of the Republic that the supreme interest necessitates him being the constitutional guardian by refraining from resignation and bearing legal and constitutional responsibility at this dangerous stage."

He continued, "For everyone to hear that we reject this resignation, we will be aiding the President of the Republic to complete the march."

The Iraqi protesters, on Thursday, appreciated the position of President Barham Salih, who refused to assign the candidate of the "Construction" coalition, Asaad Al-Eidani, to the post of prime minister, and stressed in chants they repeated that the prime minister will not and will not be political.

In Basra Governorate (South), the protesters emphasized that the president's position was in line with the national and moral duty that Barham Salih assumed.

One of the demonstrators, Jamal Al-Nassiri, said, "The Iraqi president, with his stance and his refusal to assign Al-Eidani, to form the government, has left the country an untold chaos."

For his part, Ihab Al-Jumaili, one of the coordinators of the Diyala protests, said in press statements that "representatives of the coordination of protests in the governorates delivered a message to President Saleh, and warned him of the danger of assigning him to any party candidate for prime minister."

Al-Jumaili explained, "The message was clear that any assignment to a party candidate would make matters get out of hand."

He pointed out that "the president was his position in favor of the people."

The sit-in squares in the governorates of Diwaniya, Najaf, Karbala, Muthanna, Maysan, Dhi Qar and Wasit, located in the center, south and east of the country, Thursday, witnessed celebrations because of the president's refusal to assign al-Idani to the position of prime minister.

The protesters forced the government of Adel Abdul-Mahdi to resign in early December, and they insist on the departure and accountability of all political elites accused of corruption and waste of state funds, which have governed since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003.

The demonstrators are also demanding the selection of an honest, independent candidate who is not subject to foreign affairs, especially Iran, who will administer the country for a transitional phase in preparation for early elections.

The Arabs

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[DinarThug]

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Turning to Iraq and Lebanon ... British report: the Arab Spring in its second edition is more angry
 

 

27th December, 2019

Trier described to the British newspaper "The Guardian" the protests in several Arab countries as a "youth earthquake". The Guardian newspaper, whose editorial came under the title "Arab Spring 2.0". The newspaper says that more than 60 percent of the population of the Middle East are young, under the age of 30, and they feel frustrated and angry about the ruling class corruption, foreign interference, and the military's control of daily life and affairs.

The newspaper says that about ten years ago these same factors led hundreds of thousands of Arab youth to demonstrate in what became known as the Arab Spring protests. Now the demonstrators have returned to the squares, wiser, but also angrier. It adds that the protests are now in countries that were on the sidelines of the first wave of the Arab Spring protests. In the first wave, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Morocco and Bahrain were present, and now Iraq, Algeria and Lebanon.

The newspaper believes that Lebanon and Iraq in particular represent a danger, because the protests represent a challenge to Iran's influence in their political institutions, as Tehran does not wish to reduce its influence in the region. The newspaper believes that during the coming period, Iran will step up its pressure on countries that have great influence within it, and will lead to beating the drums of war in the region. The newspaper believes that the Arab Spring in its second edition represents another threat. If the demonstrators are suppressed, and the demonstrators feel alienated and ignored in their lands, they will board the boats and migrate to the west.

The newspaper says there is no reason to believe that the second Arab Spring will differ from the first Arab Spring. But the West should not lose hope in the reform process. The newspaper adds that the demonstrators in Iraq and Lebanon not only demonstrate against unemployment, high prices and lack of services, but they want to put an end to the sectarian and religious system on which the country's system of government is built. The newspaper says that the first wave of the Arab Spring witnessed a limited number of success stories, such as Tunisia, the country that started the Arab Spring, and in this second wave Sudan experienced some degree of success.

[Laid Back]

What is waiting Iraq after refusing pressure and preferring to resign.?

Iraqi President Barham Salih announced his readiness to put his resignation in front of parliament for his reservations on the nomination of the current governor of Basra, Asaad Al-Eidani, for the position of Prime Minister. Salih said in an official statement addressed to Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi that he was adhering to the articles of the constitution in appointing the largest number of parliamentary bloc candidates.

He pointed out that in light of the requirements imposed by the protest movement, it is imperative to consider the supreme national interest before personal and political considerations. He added that he could not assign Al-Eidani to head and form the next government, taking into account the responsibility of the President of the Republic towards his people as he put it. This position of the President of the Republic can be read from several angles:
The first: the persistence of conflicting visions between Barham Salih, the President of the Republic of Iraq, and the parliamentary bloc that pushes for the nomination of a certain personality for the position of Prime Minister, a figure rejected by the Iraqi people. And here is the president who is the patron in response to the parish’s voice.

Second: The threat of resignation or the threat of it by Barham Salih to accept the assignment of Asaad Al-Eidani, this indicates that the President of the Republic built this political position, based on a deep understanding of what is happening from the mass protest movement in Iraq, the president with this refusal biased to the demands of the Iraqi people, which is National position par excellence, and this position will be recorded in history for Barham Salih, President of the Republic of Iraq, who refused to listen to Iran regarding the process of choosing the Prime Minister.

Third: That Iran and its allies’ insistence from the political, security, and parliamentarian community in Iraq to nominate a political figure rejected by the Iraqi people means either that Iran and its allies in Iraq completely ignore the demands of the Iraqi people, or that they also completely deny the overwhelming protest scene that Iraq has witnessed since Last October, it was because Iran and its allies ruled Iraq. They are seeking to get rid of the dark tunnel that Iraq entered it and did not leave it until now. The question that arises in this context: Will Iran and its allies continue to stand in their “right” to choose the personality of the Prime Minister, or will the internal, regional and international circumstances push it to retreat from that?

It is not easy for the Iranian political system to give up its influence and impact that it built in Iraq in the post-2003 period. The matter is very difficult based on the material data in Iraq, but we say if pressures are imposed on it that force it to back away from it, without preserving its interests in Iraq, they may take it through its allies to a catastrophic scene – no one , who is keen for the interests of Iraq and his people , wants it because Iran is aware of any loss of its position in Iraq that may open the way for many geopolitical losses in the Arab Mashreq, will Iran accept this, or will it go to brinkmanship in Iraq?

In sum, that the political system in Iran in order not to lose Iraq, may resort to actions no less ugly than the actions of Hulagu, but the Iranian political, military and security decision-maker must realize that all the invaders of Iraq have ceased to exist and Iraq remains lofty , and how does it not rise ?! It is the origin of the authentic human civilization. Did the sons of this civilization from its Arabs and Kurds fail to rule themselves without waiting orders from Tehran !!

Iraqi Studies Unit

Rawabet Center for Research and Strategic Studies