Dep PM: "I was Mistaken" in Joining Govt

We demanded on multiple occasions that the conscription law be reformulated, given the positive effect this would have on keeping the military institution removed from political and sectarian competition. When the former Iraqi army was dissolved, we lost hope that Iraq would remain united because of the absence of a true force to guard the unity of Iraq.

Al-Monitor:  Are you a candidate for an executive position? Have you been nominated for speaker of parliament? How will [political parties] come to an agreement on this position among all of the proposed names?

Mutlaq:  We are not seeking any executive or legislative office, aside from that which is imposed on us. Our national duty toward the Iraqi people makes us not hesitate for a single moment to provide our services in any place where we think we are able to reform and remove harm. We have always announced that we would not participate in a government like the current one, and I note that I was mistaken when I accepted the position of deputy prime minister in a government restricted by partisan agreements. [This government] committed a series of mistakes because of policies of individualization and marginalization, as well as the lack of clarity concerning powers and the lack of an internal system to specify [the work] of the Cabinet.

Al-Monitor:  You served as deputy prime minister for services affairs. Where lies the flaw in the government's performance in providing services?

Mutlaq:  It is known that the services file cannot be isolated from the security file, and any shortcomings in the security file will naturally reflect negatively on services, the economy, investment, unemployment and providing jobs to youth. We have made great efforts in the field of municipal and health services, as well as in the fields of transportation, housing, activating the private sector, developing small and medium enterprises, etc. We undertook many field visits to cities and provinces, and we held many meetings and conferences. We laid true foundations for reconstructing and rehabilitating infrastructure, especially as the country has suffered for many decades — and still is suffering — from a collapse of infrastructure. Work in this regard requires more effort and time, and infrastructure work can only bear its fruit through cumulative and sustainable efforts.