Archive | Politics

Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraqi politics news, keeping you up to date with the latest information and developments.

Iraqis to buy Antiguan Citizenship to Access Europe?

By John Lee. Antigua's opposition is planning to stage a public rally against government plans to establish an embassy in Iraq, and to allow Iraqis to become citizens under the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP). Under the CIP programme, foreign individuals can effectively buy citizenship, which allows them access to the European Union via the […]

Expert Blogger Ahmed Mousa Jiyad on Unaoil Corruption Scandal

By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Unaoil Corruption Scandal: International and Iraq update and follow-up The recent joint report by Australia's Fairfax Media and the Huffington Post uncovering serious international corruption scandal allegedly masterminded by a Monaco based […]

Bribery Scandal: PM Calls for Investigation

By John Lee. Prime Minister Haider al-Abaid has called for an investigation into allegations of bribery in the Iraqi oil industry. Iraq's ambassador to the United States, Lukman Faily, has also said that al-Abadi will personally chair a new committee to review all major contracts issued by government ministries. The moves follow reports from the […]

PM's Oil Minister Nominee Withdraws Candidacy

By John Lee. The Prime Minister's nominee for the post of oil minister in his new 'technocrat cabinet' has reportedly withdrawn his candidacy, apparently because he had not been formally proposed by the main Kurdish groups. Nizar Saleem Numan, a 65-year-old Kurdish petroleum geologist, who is the dean of the college of planning at the University […]

Prime Minister Announces New 'Technocrat' Cabinet

By John Lee. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi nominated a new cabinet on Thursday, pledging to make political reforms to reduce corruption in response to sit-in protests in Baghdad led by Muqtada al-Sadr. Sixteen ministries will be changed, and the parliament will vote in ten days to either approve, reject or amend the proposed cabinet. No […]

Abadi Rejects Deadline for New Cabinet

By John Lee. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has called for parliament to either support or reject his calls for a technocratic government, pushing back against a looming deadline for a new cabinet, according to a report from AFP. He said Parliament must decide if it wants him "to present ministers from the political blocs or […]

IMF could Secure 3-yr Standby Deal for Iraq

By John Lee. Reuters reports that the International Monetary Fund could approve a standby arrangement (SBA) with Iraq as early as June, unlocking $15 billion in international assistance over the next three years. The head of the IMF’s mission in Iraq, Christian Josz, said on Tuesday that the package of assistance, nearly one third of it […]

Parliament Sets Deadline for Abadi’s New Cabinet

By John Lee. The Iraqi Parliament has set a deadline of Thursday this week for Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to present a new cabinet. Nearly two months ago, Abadi said he would replace the current ministers with “technocrat” figures who are no affiliated with political parties. "If Abadi fails to present his new cabinet, he […]

Video: Is Muqtada al-Sadr fueling Shia Infighting?

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr is putting pressure on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to carry out reforms to fight corruption. Sadr has managed to rally a huge number of angry Iraqi protesters […]