Iraq PM confident ministers will meet deadline

[DinarCowboy12]

Baghdad: Iraq's prime minister said on Saturday he was confident his government will survive a 100-day test he imposed on cabinet ministers to enact reforms and root out corruption or risk losing their jobs.

But premier Nouri Al Maliki opened several escape clauses for his ministers should they fail to meet the June 7 deadline, which he set in an effort to appease protests by crowds demanding better public services and an end to corruption.

He also dodged questions about whether he would step down if his government is deemed to have failed.

The issue is being watched as a sign of whether Iraq's government will hold together in the face of the nationwide protests.

So far, the demonstrations have not reached the threat level of other uprisings.

But eight years after the US-led invasion, Iraqis are fed up with limited electricity, streets in some areas that run with sewage and the dishonesty and greed of government officials standing in the way of addressing such woes. At the same time, insurgent attacks, crime and other violence continue to plague Iraq's cities.

"If it is proved during the 100 days that a minister is not capable to do these duties, then he definitely will be replaced," Al Maliki said. "So far, there are some good efforts by some ministers, but we can't judge now."

Pressed on whether he too might leave, Al Maliki said his government would cease to exist if it failed.

"If all the ministers fail, then the government would end because there is no need for the continuation of a failed government," he said. "But this is not likely, as some ministers have started to show some signs of success."

Link - http://gulfnews.com/news/region/iraq/iraq-pm-confident-ministers-will-meet-deadline-1.786715

[djuggler]

Will M step down when they prove him corrupt? That might speed things up!

[Tropics]

Maliki has already gone past 100 days on appointing all the ministries. So it looks to me like he should be the first to go and quit pretending it is the fault of others. Leadership is only as good as the top man.