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| (AFP) |
On May 7 the former head of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service Mustafa al-Kazemi had his government approved by parliament. The ruling parties argued over his appointees making him change them several times, but the majority were finally confirmed. His cabinet is different from many of the previous ones with most of them being technocrats. The question now is how much can he get done within the restraints of Iraq’s political system.
Out of 22
ministries in Kazemi’s government 15 were approved by parliament. 5 nominees for Trade, Justice,
Culture, Agricultural and Migration were rejected, while Oil and Foreign
Affairs were to be decided later. While the political parties got to pick the
ministers they were largely non-partisan. Defense Minister Juma Enad has a
degree in military science, was an officer in Saddam’s army, and was a
commander in the war against the Islamic State. Interior Minister Othman
Ghanimi has a degree in military science as well and helped rebuild the Iraqi
army after 2003. Finance Minister Ali Allawi is the former Trade, Defense and
Finance Ministers, worked at the World Bank, and is an academic. Planning
Minister Khalid Najim was the head of Anbar University. Health Minister Dr.
Hassan Mohammed has a degree in pharmacology and served in several Baghdad
hospitals. Electricity Minister Majid Mahdi Hantosh has a degree in engineering
and was the director general in several different departments of the
Electricity Ministry. Youth Minister Adnan Dirjal coached the Iraqi national
soccer team under Saddam and then went on to head several other teams in Iraq
and the region. Industry Minister Manhal Aziz has a degree in physics and
worked in the private sector. Communications Minister Arkan Shihab was the
director general of projects and planning in the Communications Ministry. The
Labor Minister Adil Hashush worked in the disabilities department at the Labor
Ministry. Education Minister Ali Hamid has a degree in education and was the
director general in the Education Ministry. Housing Minister Nazanin Mohammed
was the Municipalities Minister in the Kurdistan Regional Government. Higher
Education Minister Nabil Abd al-Sahib has a degree in mechanical engineering
and was the president of the Dhi Qar and Nahrain Universities. Water Minister
Mehdi Rashid has a degree in water resources and was the general manager of
Iraqi dams and held other offices in the Water Ministry. Finally,
Transportation Minister Nasir Hussein has a degree in aeronautical sciences and
was the director general of the Civil Aviation Authority. Kazemi’s predecessor
Premier Adil Abdul Mahdi was able to appoint some technocrats as well to his
cabinet, but this is far more extensive. This marks a move away from political
appointees who usually had no experience in the ministries they would run. At
the same time since many of Kazemi’s cabinet come from within those same
ministries they could be intimately involved with all of the politics and
corruption that take place within them.
The main
similarity between Kazemi and Abdul Mahdi is that neither had a political base.
Abdul Mahdi left the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq and was an independent
when he was chosen as premier. Likewise, Kazemi has no political affiliation
and was the intelligence head. Abdul Mahdi was severely hampered by not having
a party to fall back upon. Iraq is run by elites that control the state and its
assets. If they oppose a prime minister, they can block his agenda. Kazemi for
instance said he wants to fight corruption which every incoming Iraqi leader
always says. Since the ruling parties use graft and bribes to rule directly
challenging them is usually never even attempted. Just as important the new PM
is coming into office as the economy collapses under the dual shocks of the
coronavirus and an oil shock. Can he reform spending the majority of which goes
to government salaries and pensions and start moving Iraq away from oil
dependency? Again, both of these run up against the establishment that use the
public sector in patronage networks to maintain support and have shown no
serious interest in diversifying the economy because they benefit from oil. Cutting
pay for public employees may under an austerity program may also turn a
sizeable portion of the public against the new administration. The question
comes down to can Kazemi work the system and find support in the country to do
what he wants or will he simply have to follow the whims of the ruling parties
and maintain the status quo?
SOURCES
Aldroubi, Mina, “Iraq PM-designate’s Mustafa Al Kadhimi’s ambitious plans
may not win him support, experts say,” The National, 4/30/20
- “With key posts vacant, Iraq prime minister pushes on with incomplete
government,” The National, 5/7/20
- “UPDATE: No oil minister yet in Mustafa Kadhimi’s new government,”
5/7/20
- “Meet Iraq’s new Cabinet,” Al Monitor, 5/8/20
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