Archive | Politics

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

Ahmed Chalabi Dies, Aged 71

By John Lee. The prominent Iraqi politician Ahmed Chalabi has died at the age of 71. Chalabi, who played a significant role in persuading the United States and its allies to topple Saddam Hussein in 2003, died of a heart attack at his Baghdad home on Tuesday. Having previously served as Deputy Prime Minister, Chalabi […]

Parliament Curbs Prime Minister's Power

By John Lee. The Iraqi parliament voted unanimously on Monday to prevent the government from passing important reforms without its approval, according to a report from Reuters. The chamber acted after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (pictured) unilaterally enacted reforms in August that it considered to be in violation of the constitution, including his dismissal of […]

"No Houses for the Arabs" in Kurdistan

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. No Houses for the Arabs: Iraqi Kurdish Council's Controversial Ruling About Who Can, and Cannot, Buy Property Tensions between displaced Arabs in Iraqi Kurdistan and local Kurds are growing. Which […]

UK's Iraq Inquiry to be Published Next Summer

By John Lee. John Chilcot (pictured), chairman of a long-running British inquiry into the Iraq War, has said he expects to publish the report in June or July 2016. In a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron he said: "My colleagues and I estimate that we will be able to complete the text of our […]

75% of 2016 Draft Budget is for Operational Expenditure

Almost 75 percent of Iraq’s draft budget for 2016 is earmarked for operational expenditure, with 25 percent set aside for investment purposes, a lawmaker has said. He added that more than 6,500 government-sponsored projects are still on hold for a second consecutive year because of falling oil prices. The Iraqi government has already submitted the […]

Human Rights Watch - "Protesters Beaten, Abducted"

Iraqi security forces have repeatedly beaten and violently dispersed protesters during anti-corruption demonstrations since August 2015 without any apparent justification, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement on Friday: In some instances, unidentified men in civilian clothes abducted and beat demonstrators. Prosecutors have failed to respond to judicial complaints lodged by victims of these […]

Iraqi Kurdistan's Brewing Crisis

By Mahmut Bozarslan for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Demonstrations turned violent earlier this month as thousands of people protested the dire economic situation in Iraqi Kurdistan, with many demanding that Massoud Barzani (pictured) step down as regional president. Developments that brought the […]

Protests 'Cost Sulaymaniyah About $1bn'

By John Lee. The Kurdistan Region’s Syndicate of Investors [Kurdistan Investors Union] has said that recent violent protests in Sulaymaniyah have cost the province $1 billion. Spokesperson Mala Yasin Mahmoud told BasNews that many strategic projects have been cancelled and foreign investors are leaving because of the protests. “At least 15% of the foreign investments […]

Can Iraq meet US, Russia halfway?

By Mustafa al-Kadhimi for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The conflicts in Iraq and Syria are becoming increasingly convoluted by the day. Russia's engagement has been an additional complication to the overlapping battles. This international interference is undoubtedly a major challenge to the […]

IMF may offer Major Loan to Iraq

By John Lee. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) may provide a large loan to Iraq to help stabilize the country's finances, a senior IMF official has told Reuters. Masood Ahmed (pictured), Director of the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia Department, said an IMF team will discuss with Iraqi officials early next month how to […]

Cabinet Approves 2016 Budget of $91bn

By John Lee. Iraq's Cabinet has approved a budget of 106 trillion Iraqi dinars ($91 billion) for 2016. The figures are based on crude oil output of 3.6 million barrels per day (BPD) at a price of $45 a barrel. Spokesman Saad al-Hadithi told The Associated Press that Iraq will run with a deficit of […]