Iraqi Prime Minister Announces Ambitious 7-Point Reform Plan

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. (Source: AFP)

In an effort to calm the recent wave of protests, on August 9, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced a 7-point sweeping reform plan, notably proposing to abolish three vice presidential positions and three deputy prime ministerial positions.

The Iraqi cabinet soon approved the reform plan.

The seven-point plan includes cutting the number of ministries and agencies to increase government efficiency and reduce public spending, a statement from Prime Minister Abadi's office said.

The plan also calls for immediate and comprehensive cuts in the number of security personnel protecting senior officials, including the president, prime minister, speaker of parliament, ministers, lawmakers, governors, provincial committee members and a number of other senior officials.

The measures also include additional spending cuts for the country's top three positions as well as other government agencies; detailed guidelines will be released later.

Prime Minister Abadi also called for reforms to the way senior officials are appointed, including abolishing party quotas. Non-political individuals will also be given the opportunity to take up senior government positions, and appointments will be vetted by a committee selected by the prime minister based on merit and integrity.

Despite the cabinet's support, Prime Minister Abadi's proposed major changes, such as abolishing the posts, require constitutional amendments and therefore parliamentary approval. The three vice-presidential positions are currently held by three former top officials: Abadi's predecessor, Nuri al-Maliki, former parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi and former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

On the same day, Mr. Maliki and Mr. Nujaifi announced their support for Prime Minister Abadi's reform plan.

The reform plan was announced by Prime Minister Abadi after a wave of massive protests spread across the capital Baghdad and several southern cities to protest corruption, poor public services, and electricity shortages.

In addition, in a speech on August 7, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the most influential figure in the Shi'ite Muslim world, also encouraged reform.

According to Grand Ayatollah Sistani, the government should make important decisions and take strong measures to fight corruption and achieve social justice./.

(According to VN+)