Iraq’s Parliament Awaits Cabinet Formation to Schedule Vote of Confidence Session

[Pitcher]

https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2262241/iraq’s-parliament-awaits-cabinet-formation-schedule-vote-confidence-session
 

Iraq’s Parliament Awaits Cabinet Formation to Schedule Vote of Confidence Session

Friday, 1 May, 2020 - 08:45 

Policemen wave to a passing vehicle as they break their fast together, while on duty enforcing a curfew due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at a security checkpoint in Iraq's southern city of Basra during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan on April 30, 2020. (Photo by Hussein FALEH / AFP)

Baghdad - Asharq Al-Awsat

Iraq’s second deputy speaker, Bashir al-Haddad, has said that setting a date for a vote of confidence session to Prime Minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s government hinges on sending the resumes of the nominated ministers to parliament.

“The parliament has not yet set a date for an extraordinary session to give confidence to the new cabinet,” Haddad said.

He pointed out that the legislature hasn’t been informed of the line-up.

“Once informed of the names of candidates and their resumes, it shall schedule an extraordinary session on granting the cabinet a vote of confidence.”

He said it would be difficult for lawmakers to arrive in Baghdad from different provinces due to the curfew and preventive measures taken to fight the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

In a statement on Thursday, Haddad said that instead of holding regular sessions, the parliament formed a crisis cell headed by first deputy speaker Hassan al-Kaabi.

Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi assigned Kaabi to head a special committee to review the government’s program, a copy of which was sent by the PM-designate. 

Kadhimi’s office affirmed that he will send the candidates’ CVs to the parliament once the vote of confidence session is scheduled, supposedly early next week.

Meanwhile, Baghdad and Erbil agreed not to let their differences over salaries, the state budget and oil to impede the government formation process.

Kurdish lawmaker Hasan Ali said meetings held between the Kurdistan Regional Government’s delegation and officials in Baghdad have had good outcomes.

Although both sides did not announce a practical settlement to their differences, yet they agreed to form technical committees to discuss them.

This means discussions have been postponed until after the government formation.

“Kurds don’t want to hinder the efforts to form the next Iraqi cabinet,” former Kurdish MP Majid Shankali said.

 

 

[Pitcher]

Power piracy cost Iraqi government $12bn in lost revenue, says minister -

 

https://www.thenational.ae/business/power-piracy-cost-iraqi-

government-12bn-in-lost-revenue-says-minister-1.1013614

 

Electricity theft resulted in a loss of $12 billion to the Iraqi government's revenue last year, as the country braces itself for a severe summer after planned power projects face delays following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy.

"The challenges that we’re referring [to]... we need to sort out the tariff reform. At the moment we have four million registered units, [of which] 50 per cent of them thrive on power piracy... and all of these are leading to a loss of $12bn to the government based on last year’s oil prices," Iraqi electricity minister Luay Al Khateeb told a virtual panel organised by the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani.

READ MORE

US extends Iraq's waiver to buy Iranian electricity

Iraq set to sign contract to rebuild Anbar's power grid next month, says electricity minister

Rebuilding Iraq's power infrastructure, damaged by decades of war, is high on the government’s list of priorities. A crippled utility network has been a key factor behind protests across Iraqi provinces during summer months, when temperatures can easily reach 50°C, occasionally requiring government-mandated holidays to cope with the extreme weather.

The electricity ministry planned to raise overall power capacity in Iraq to 22GW by the summer of 2020, the Mr Al Khateeb told The National in an earlier interview. The country's power generation capacity had reached 19.2GW, he told the panel.

"With this capacity, if we implement tariff reforms and completely remove subsidies, this generation is enough to provide us electricity 24/7 but without tariff reforms, it is completely difficult," he added.

 

Iraq, Opec's second-largest producer is taking a bit hit to its oil revenues, which comprise nearly 90 per cent of government income. Oil prices have fallen nearly 80 per cent since the beginning of the year, widening the fiscal deficit for many of the Middle East's oil exporters.

Iraq's electricity rehabilitation programme, which relies on multinational companies to rebuild damaged utilities, develop new schemes as well as tackle persistent gas flaring has dragged following geopolitical tensions earlier this year between the US and Iran, in which Baghdad was caught in the crossfire. A lack of government to sanction new deals has also complicated the situation in a country, which continues to rely on Iranian gas and electricity imports to meet its power needs.

The US extended a waiver granting continued imports of Iranian electricity last week, following an earlier extension by 30 days.

The waiver would allow for a "credible government" to be formed in Iraq, a US state department official told Reuters news agency. The latest waiver expires on May 26 and is shorter than the earlier grants of 90 or 120-day extensions.

Iraq, which is also looking to import electricity from neighbouring Jordan as well as from the regional grid, GCC Interconnection Authority, is likely to continue its reliance on Iranian gas for the foreseeable future.

"With Jordan, we negotiated a deal and it will only materialise in 24 months. The rate is very much on par with the Iranian electricity imports," said Mr Al Khateeb.

"The GCCIA deal is 15 per cent less than the Iranian price and it takes one year to be implemented. The Iranian rates are very competitive. It’s a free market," he added.

[Pitcher]

https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mec/2020/04/30/challenges-and-opportunities-facing-iraqs-presumptive-prime-minister/
 

Challenges and Opportunities Facing Iraq’s Presumptive Prime Minister

by Hayder Al-Khafaji

Iraq’s new prime minister-designate, Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Source: 1001 Iraqi Thoughts

Following months of high drama and tension which eventually led to the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, and the subsequent withdrawal of several nominees for the office of prime minister, amongst them Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi and Adnan al-Zurfi; the Iraq’s various political movements and  parties finally agreed in April 2020 on a nomination. They chose Mustafa al-Kadhimi, the head of the Iraq’s intelligence service, to take the office of prime minister and in due course to lead the new government. In order to understand the true extent of the difficulties facing al-Kadhimi, it is necessary to outline the challenges and opportunities he is likely to encounter on his path towards stabilising the situation in Iraq.

Opportunities for the New Prime Minister

Al-Kadhimi was selected from among the Shi’a, Sunni and Kurdish parties on the basis of a comprehensive consensus or general agreement, unlike the process by which al-Zurfi was nominated, when the parliamentary majority party had no say in the matter. Therefore, the unprecedented consensus amongst the Shi’a and Sunni political parties and movements, following a prolonged period of division and disagreement, and the large turn-out of the various political groups during the announcement of his candidacy for prime minister bodes well for al-Kadhimi’s chances of implementing his plans for the country’s future. Iraq firstly needs security, with political stability to follow. Given al-Kadhimi’s background in the intelligence service and the positive security relationship he has built up with Iraq’s tribes, hopes are high in this department. As far as political stability is concerned, given the current consensus amongst the various political parties, there are no challenges facing Iraq in the short term.

More than anything else, al-Kadhimi’s candidacy has crystallised the unity of the usually warring Shi’a parties, given the aftermath of last year’s widespread popular protests that many thought had led to irreparable internal divisions and disunity within the Shi’a political scene. Until this point, these parties had consistently put their self-interests and the exploitation of the country’s deteriorating circumstances over and above the national good.

One of the most important aspects regarding the selection of al-Kadhimi, which will undoubtedly help him, is that both Iran and the United States have welcomed his nomination and announced their intention to cooperate with him during his tenure as prime minister. This should lead to a reduction in tensions between the two rival powers on Iraqi soil.

Challenges Facing the New Prime Minister

The country’s turbulent economic situation, accompanied more recently by an unprecedented fall in world oil prices and a corresponding decline in Iraq’s revenues, is both a wake-up call and one of the most important challenges facing al-Kadhimi in the next government, with more than 90 percent of the state’s annual budget depending on oil revenues. It is estimated that Iraq will have a budget deficit of more than $50 billion this year.

The COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq, as elsewhere, has had large-scale negative consequences for the country’s economy, and coupled with the fragile infrastructure of the various sectors of the state, the new government will in all likelihood find itself unable to deal effectively with the effects of these consequences. The manufacturing, tourism, service and agricultural sectors will all face major crises.

The issue of reconstruction and compensation for the heavy losses caused by the war with Da’esh, and the resurgence of some Da’esh cells in Iraq along with the resumption of sporadic attacks, are among the most urgent threats that al-Kadhimi will face towards the beginning of his tenure as prime minister.

The widespread protests over recent months have encouraged the populace to openly express their political and social aspirations, and therefore it is likely to prove difficult for al-Kadhimi to persuade society at large to accept compromise and to reduce longstanding tensions. Accordingly, al-Kadhimi must present to the people a suitable plan with a realistic agenda that includes a reduction in unemployment, fighting corruption and economic reform.

Another pressing question remains over the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. In light of the vote by the Iraqi parliament on the necessity of the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq in the wake of the assassination of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Major General Qasim Soleimani, there are unresolved tensions amongst the armed groups and political parties on this issue.

The implementation of the policy of restricting weapons to all but the legitimate state security organs, integrating all factions of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Sha’abi in Arabic) within the security apparatus, and placing them under the command of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, would be an important step towards ridding the country of partisan loyalties to these factions. Al-Kadhimi is reported to have the backing of Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani for the full integration of the Hashd.

The unprecedented agreement, which followed a prolonged period of division and disagreement between the various actors on the joint nomination of a prime minister, must be evaluated in a constructive manner. The welcoming of al-Kadhimi’s candidacy by the major Shi’a, Sunni, and Kurdish parties, alongside the use of the correct legal procedures for his nomination as a candidate for prime minister, suggest that Iraq has finally taken an important step towards stability, and this step requires the support of all concerned. Furthermore, Iraq’s neighbouring countries have announced their support for him. All these developments, along with the upcoming challenges, have provided Mustafa al-Kadhimi – and Iraq – with a powerful opportunity.

[horsesoldier]

Foot draggers & Sand baggers ..... still the people wait & wait & wait -  -  - 

[Pitcher]

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-05-01/Is-Mustafa-al-Kadhimi-an-answer-for-protesting-Iraqis--Q8ppq0MZ0c/index.html
 

Is Mustafa al-Kadhimi an answer for protesting Iraqis?

Middle East 19:27, 01-May-2020

Is Mustafa al-Kadhimi an answer for protesting Iraqis?

Li Ruikang

As the deadline (May 9) for the Iraqi prime minister-designate to form a government approaches, all eyes are now on the 53-year-old intelligence chief's next moves. Mustafa al-Kadhimi, the third candidate tasked with taking the country out of its months-long political stalemate, seems to be on the right path to overcome seemingly insurmountable hurdles.

On Wednesday, Kadhimi submitted his prospective government's program to parliament, but whether it will be approved by the highly fractured legislature remains largely unknown.

Previously a prominent opposition figure during Saddam Hussein's rule, Kadhimi was appointed as the head of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service in 2016. He has presided over much of the battle against ISIL and his agency also played a key role in the hunt for the notorious armed group's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. 

Unlike the two previous candidates, Kadhimi appears to garner broad support from across the political spectrum. Some of the most powerful Shiite parties, along with other Sunni and Kurdish factions, have all come out to signal their support for the independent candidate. On top of that, the vote of confidence extended by the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran has also cleared the way for his success. 

"The first candidate Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi was considered as too subservient to Iran and met opposition even inside the Shiite camp," Meir Litvak, chair of the Department of Middle Eastern and African History at Tel Aviv University, told CGTN. "As for Adnan al-Zurfi, the second candidate, he was associated too much as a pro-American and Iran exerted very heavy pressure against him." 

Yet the ideal scenario where Kadhimi does secure a cabinet lineup that is acceptable to most parties barely offers any comfort to the protesting Iraqis. 

Forming a government in Iraq has never been easy. It's important to note that outgoing Prime Minister Abdul al-Mahdi took almost a year to complete the cabinet allocations after assuming office.

As a relatively young, yet overly flawed democracy, the nascent republic has suffered multiple political crises throughout its existence. Causes for each of these could be manifold, but they never escape a dominant political arrangement that has been shaping Iraq's political landscape since 2005. 

The muhasasa, a sectarian quota system that organizes Iraqi politics along confessional lines, was initially intended to include Iraq's diverse ethno-sectarian groups for proportional government participation. But as the mechanism itself also leaves room for manipulation by self-serving politicians while inadvertently deepening sectarian divides, it has become a breeding ground for a slew of perennial woes disastrously plaguing the country.

Featuring much of Iraq's last 17 years was a mixture of deeply entrenched corruption, rampant sectarian violence and constant political instability. Over the years, Iraqis have been attributing the country's unabated hardships to the muhasasa and the public demand for its removal only grows stronger. 

Coinciding with  Iraqis' rejection of the Muhasasa is a wave of civil unrest that has lasted more than half a year with no sign of ending despite the coronavirus pandemic. While the occupation of public squares across the country has subsequently unseated a prime minister, Baghdad has done little to address the protesting crowds' key demand. 

Anti-government protests in Baghdad, Iraq, November 14, 2019. /Reuters

Absent in political elites' intention to overhaul the system is their reluctance to give up the muhasasa-stemmed privileges. As this process entitles them to govern based on consensus and informal agreements, the diverse political blocs all have a say in the selection of ministers and other high-ranking positions of the state apparatus. With parties wading into the selection process usually comes a raft of top officials representing sectarian, partisan interests and thus devoid of the necessary expertise to govern, as was the case in almost all previous governments. 

While former heads of government, including Abdul al-Mahdi who still serves as caretaker premier, did endeavor to appoint independent technocrats as ministers, such attempts were only to prove futile as the rebellion by parties was too strong. 

"It is always a game of who would grab more power, and therefore too many politicians benefit from the system," Litvak said.

Allawi, the first prime minister-designate, received the same fate when he insisted on filling the government with skilled experts. 

It is tempting to see whose names were nominated at Kadhimi's discretion, but analysts have already cast doubt on the odds of his list representing a fundamental breakaway from the current cabinet makeup.

Several Iraqi lawmakers told Rudaw, an Iraqi Kurdistan-based news outlet, that Kadhimi's current selections have been pushed through by political parties for the sake of their own interests, rather than being chosen for their expertise. 

"The names in Kadhimi's cabinet list have come about through pressure from some political parties in the Kurdistan Region, some Sunni political parties, and some Shiite parties," one MP said.

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Iraqi leaders to "put aside the sectarian quota system and make compromises that lead to government formation for the good of the Iraqi people."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi in Baghdad, Iraq, January 9, 2019. /Reuters

Whether Pompeo's message will have any real impact on Baghdad is unclear, but the enduring political crisis and uncertainties over its future trajectory have surely overshadowed the urgency to overhaul a principal arrangement that enjoys many politicians' silent support.

For political leaders to actually mull the idea of abandoning the system is a taboo that could amount to political suicide, Litvak said. It is exactly this arrangement that they must rely on to secure a complete, though potentially untenable, government. Otherwise, they risk being ousted by a vote of no confidence. 

Determination to discard the muhasasa is not completely absent in the political realm, but promises and stated resolve eventually succumbed to the daunting obstacles and thus failed to translate into concrete actions. Indicative of these repetitive cycles is a palpable quandary that has strangled the prospect of any meaningful reform. 

So far, none of the three prime ministers-designate has offered a solution that could ultimately fulfill the protesters' primary demand. 

(Cover image: Iraqi intelligence chief Mustafa al-Kadhimi speaks during a news conference.

[Pitcher]

7 minutes ago, horsesoldier said:

Foot draggers & Sand baggers ..... still the people wait & wait & wait -  -  - 

 

Why change, the leaders are ripping off the country’s oil wealth and no one stops it.  Not Iran, or Iraq or The USA.  I would be willing to bet our country is benefiting more than just selling them our currency.  I bet you our politicians are getting greased.  The entire set up is corrupt.  It burns me up when I think what my sons had to endure fighting in that shithole so a bunch of corrupt politicians and a rouge country could benefit.  Complete BS.  

[southbeach]

All I know is the $1.17 exchange rate is going to be worth all this daily drama

[horsesoldier]

1 hour ago, Pitcher said:

 

Why change, the leaders are ripping off the country’s oil wealth and no one stops it.  Not Iran, or Iraq or The USA.  I would be willing to bet our country is benefiting more than just selling them our currency.  I bet you our politicians are getting greased.  The entire set up is corrupt.  It burns me up when I think what my sons had to endure fighting in that shithole so a bunch of corrupt politicians and a rouge country could benefit.  Complete BS.  

 you betcha. High grade  at that. I’m angry to my core.

[Half Crazy Runner]

2 hours ago, southbeach said:

All I know is the $1.17 exchange rate is going to be worth all this daily drama

🙏🏻 

[stanleypower]

2 hours ago, southbeach said:

All I know is the $1.17 exchange rate is going to be worth all this daily drama

Your mouth to Gods ears

[ronscarpa]

3 hours ago, Pitcher said:

Iraq’s Parliament Awaits Cabinet Formation to Schedule Vote of Confidence Session

 

3 hours ago, Pitcher said:

Power piracy cost Iraqi government $12bn in lost revenue, says minister -

 

3 hours ago, Pitcher said:

Challenges and Opportunities Facing Iraq’s Presumptive Prime Minister

    **Opportunities for the New Prime Minister   **Challenges Facing the New Prime Minister

 

3 hours ago, Pitcher said:

Is Mustafa al-Kadhimi an answer for protesting Iraqis?

 

Thanks for these 4 informative articles Pitcher ... Great job Brother ... RON

Edited May 1, 2020 by ronscarpa

[Pitcher]

My pleasure Ron.  The Rreading is a nice diversion for my Trading. It’s been some tough sledding the last 2-3 weeks in the Markets.  DV is entertaining and I like to share what little I read and know.