Bold move by Iraqi PM to tackle corruption could mean ‘new era’

Plan to abolish vice president and deputy prime minister posts follows mass protests, Josh Wood reports from Beirut.

People shout slogans during a demonstration to show support for Iraqi PM Haider Al Abadi at Tahrir Square in Baghdad on August, 9. Ahmed Saad/Reuters

BEIRUT // With Iraqis seething over corruption and incompetence in government, the country’s prime minister Haider Al Abadi proposed wide-ranging reforms on Sunday that would eliminate three vice-president posts and the office of deputy prime minister.

Iraq’s cabinet unanimously approved Mr Abadi’s reform package. But the proposals apparently necessitate a constitutional change that will have to be passed by parliament.

Beyond eliminating the top government posts, the reforms will look to reduce spending and crack down on the endemic corruption that has plagued the Iraqi government. The plan looks to cut down spending on bodyguards for officials and bring about a review of corruption cases by a board of experts.

The proposal for reforms and government shake-up comes after Mr Al Abadi was cornered by an growing and powerful protest movement this summer against corruption and the government’s failure to provide basic services. Anger was exacerbated by a brutal heatwave that recently hit Iraq at a time when the government could only provide a few hours of electricity a day.

On Friday, thousands demonstrated in Baghdad, demanding Mr Al Abadi enact reforms. Many of the protesters were Shiites, members of the prime minister’s own religious group.

Also on Friday, Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani – the most powerful Shiite cleric in the country – called on Mr Al Abadi to “strike with an iron fist” against corruption.

Experts said the reforms would be well received by the public.

“People are very much jubilant to see the traditional politicians are now out of the way and that they could see a new era coming up,” said Luay Al Khatteeb, a non-resident fellow at the Brookings Doha Centre. “This is the first step of a long way of political and institutional reform.”

While it was calls from Mr Al Abadi’s own constituency that led to his reform push, Maria Fantappie, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, said the push against corruption and political elites was something that resonated across sectarian lines.

“I think this is the peak of the feeling of resentment against that Green Zone community,” she said, referring to the fortified Baghdad quarter where many of Iraq’s political elite live and work. “People feel that both parliamentarians and ministers are just on the payroll of the state without doing anything else except serving their interests.”

At the top of government, Iraq’s three vice presidential posts and deputy prime minister post will be eliminated under the proposed reforms.

The vice presidents to be shunted out of government are former premier Nouri Al Maliki, ex-parliament speaker Osama Al Nujaifi and former prime minister Iyad Allawi.

Mr Al Maliki held the premiership from 2006 until he resigned in August last year. He was seen as a polarising figure in Iraq, alienating Sunnis and paving the way for ISIL’s insurgency. Critics say he weakened Iraq’s military, resulting in its collapse on many front lines during ISIL’s initial onslaught.

Mr Al Maliki has also been seen as a rival to Mr Al Abadi with ambitions for a return to power.

Mr Al Maliki and Mr Al Nujaifi both issued statements on Sunday backing Mr Al Abadi’s push for reforms.

Analysts said Mr Al Abadi was likely to emerge stronger from the reform movement, quickly reversing his fortunes after mass protests critical of his government.

“This is a bold move by Abadi, to some extent negating criticisms to the effect that he was ineffective and not able and willing to move against other major players in his own government,” said Reidar Visser, a historian of Iraq. “Some of the proposed moves will produce immediate results if implemented, including abolishing the deputy posts and maybe merging some ministries. These are only small steps but they are in the right direction and people in Iraq will think of Abadi as taking action.”

Sajad Jiyad, an Iraq analyst with the Baghdad-based Al Bayan Centre for Studies and Planning and the Iraqi Institute for Economic Reform, agreed that Mr Al Abadi’s moves would be well received.

“I think he’s now in a good position. He’s been strengthened by the protests because none of the protests were against him personally, none were calling for him to be fired – they were calling for the prime minister to do more,” he said.

Mr Jiyad said that while there was likely to be little public opposition to Mr Al Abadi’s plan, there could be some wrangling behind the scenes as some political elites have a lot to lose if the reforms go through.

But despite placating the protesters, Mr Al Abadi’s government still could see its authority challenged.

The leaders of some of Iraq’s Shiite militias, which have seen their popularity soar as they took on the brunt of the fight against ISIL, could potentially look to carve out more political power for themselves. Since the conflict with ISIL began they have been “trying to convert their military victories into a political legitimacy which could in a way make them very strong competitors of the existing Iraqi politicians,” said Ms Fantappie.