Early Elections and Reform Plans: An Insight into Iraq’s Future, 28 SEPT

 Early Elections and Reform Plans: An Insight into Iraq’s Future, 27 SEPT

According to a recent press interaction with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani, the prospects of early elections in Iraq hinge on the Council of Representatives’ decision to dissolve itself. The Prime Minister further assured that the government is ready for such elections. During the interaction, Al-Sudani discussed a myriad of issues ranging from political and economic reforms to social welfare initiatives.

He pointed out that the country has observed a shift in political forces emphasizing more on service delivery and economic development rather than sectarianism and identity politics. This change is evident in the over 300 registered parties contesting in the Provincial Council Elections, demonstrating a rise in political stability.

Social Protection and Economic Reforms

Al-Sudani shed light on the new Social Protection Law geared towards addressing multidimensional poverty. The law aims to assign $4 billion in 2023, with particular measures such as cash subsidies for students and children from low-income families, and an increase in ration card packages for those within the social protection network. The Prime Minister believes that these strategies, combined with a three-year budget plan for poverty, could drastically reduce poverty rates in Iraq within five years.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister affirmed the government’s pledge to support the private sector and battle corruption through systematic policies. These policies include reclaiming stolen public money, pursuing corruption suspects, and implementing tax, customs, and electronic payment reforms.

The Prime Minister also discussed the country’s currency and banking sector, highlighting the connection between the US dollar price and the crucial banking and financial sector reforms being carried out by the government. He indicated that exchange rate fluctuations represent a struggle between legitimate transactions and groups reliant on US dollar trading.

Regional Dialogue and Human Rights

In the regional context, Al-Sudani emphasized Iraq’s leading role in promoting regional dialogue and its active involvement in the Development Road Project. He expressed concern about the stability of Syria, suggesting that any instability in Syria could risk a resurgence of ISIS and pose a threat to regional security.

On human rights, the Prime Minister reassured that no individual is detained without a judicial order, and that stringent legal procedures are observed. He also stressed the provision of retrials for all criminals, including those sentenced to death, under Iraq’s amnesty laws.

Finally, the Prime Minister revealed that the Baghdad Conference is poised to expand due to requests from the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and Italy to attend and participate. He also mentioned the government’s commitment to maintaining a strong bilateral relationship with the United States for security cooperation.