Who hates reforms except those who have vested interests? Most countries struggle to enact reforms due to the huge obstacles in their way. In the Arab world, reforms are mostly talked about and rarely, very rarely implemented. It’s for this reason that when Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi announced sweeping reforms to tackle the many malaises plaguing his country, the region reacted with some dismay.
Iraq’s parliament voted overwhelmingly this week to back a package of measures aimed at stamping out corruption and government overspending, opening the way for the biggest overhaul of the country’s political system since the US-led invasion in 2003. Just one of the 297 lawmakers who attended the vote objected to the plan, which shows the unanimous support which the prime minister enjoys for his mission.
Sectarianism and corruption have been the biggest banes of Iraq. The country has been repeatedly failing after the exit of American forces. The rise of Islamic State, which has been partly attributed to the sectarian policies of the rulers in Baghdad, has dealt another crippling blow to the state. Abadi has been struggling to assert control since taking office last year, and the reform initiative should go a long way in instilling confidence among his people and in winning the much-needed support to mould Iraq into a normal, stable state.
All this is fine, but not enough. The prime minister is certain to face huge challenges in a country where powerful forces are at work to establish control. First of all, Abadi will have to prove that his initiative is driven by a desire and determination to clean up the system rather than a sinister motive to eliminate the threats from certain quarters and fix his rivals. Secondly, he will have to work assiduously to bridge the deep divide between Shias and Sunnis, which will not be easy. He will have to reach out to Sunni leaders from violence-plagued provinces west and north of the capital and give them a meaningful role in governance. The government’s failure to address the grievances of Sunnis created the conditions for the Islamic State to take control of Mosul, the country’s second-largest city, last summer.
One of the highlights of reforms is the axing of the offices of three vice presidents, with some critics even calling such a move unconstitutional. It would leave former prime minister and Abadi’s rival Nouri Al Maliki without a political position, which in turn removes his immunity from prosecution. This means he has already created a powerful enemy. Two other politicians who stand to lose their jobs, Vice President Osama Al Nujaifi and Saleh Al Mutlaq, a deputy prime minister, are among the most influential Sunnis in Baghdad. But Abadi has nothing to fear if his intentions are right•
Who hates reforms except those who have vested interests? Most countries struggle to enact reforms due to the huge obstacles in their way. In the Arab world, reforms are mostly talked about and rarely, very rarely implemented. It’s for this reason that when Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi announced sweeping reforms to tackle the many malaises plaguing his country, the region reacted with some dismay.
Iraq’s parliament voted overwhelmingly this week to back a package of measures aimed at stamping out corruption and government overspending, opening the way for the biggest overhaul of the country’s political system since the US-led invasion in 2003. Just one of the 297 lawmakers who attended the vote objected to the plan, which shows the unanimous support which the prime minister enjoys for his mission.
Sectarianism and corruption have been the biggest banes of Iraq. The country has been repeatedly failing after the exit of American forces. The rise of Islamic State, which has been partly attributed to the sectarian policies of the rulers in Baghdad, has dealt another crippling blow to the state. Abadi has been struggling to assert control since taking office last year, and the reform initiative should go a long way in instilling confidence among his people and in winning the much-needed support to mould Iraq into a normal, stable state.
All this is fine, but not enough. The prime minister is certain to face huge challenges in a country where powerful forces are at work to establish control. First of all, Abadi will have to prove that his initiative is driven by a desire and determination to clean up the system rather than a sinister motive to eliminate the threats from certain quarters and fix his rivals. Secondly, he will have to work assiduously to bridge the deep divide between Shias and Sunnis, which will not be easy. He will have to reach out to Sunni leaders from violence-plagued provinces west and north of the capital and give them a meaningful role in governance. The government’s failure to address the grievances of Sunnis created the conditions for the Islamic State to take control of Mosul, the country’s second-largest city, last summer.
One of the highlights of reforms is the axing of the offices of three vice presidents, with some critics even calling such a move unconstitutional. It would leave former prime minister and Abadi’s rival Nouri Al Maliki without a political position, which in turn removes his immunity from prosecution. This means he has already created a powerful enemy. Two other politicians who stand to lose their jobs, Vice President Osama Al Nujaifi and Saleh Al Mutlaq, a deputy prime minister, are among the most influential Sunnis in Baghdad. But Abadi has nothing to fear if his intentions are right•
