Sudani Govt Faces 1st Controversy With Spying Scandal

The Sudani government has been hit with its first scandal after members of the prime minister’s office were arrested for eavesdropping on Shiite politicians and officials. This comes as opposition to PM Sudani is growing within his own list the ruling Coordination Framework.

 

At the start of September it was revealed that several members of the prime minister’s office were arrested for wiretapping politicians and officials. That included former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, the leader of Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Qais Khazali as well as the head of the Judicial Council. The government denied the detentions had anything to do with spying and was related to a different case.

 

Reportedly there was a meeting of the Coordination Framework that runs the government at the end of August to discuss the scandal. Maliki attacked Premier Sudani demanding that he give up control of the intelligence agency, expel all members of his clan from the administration and promise not to run in the next election. Sudani rejected Maliki’s provocation but agreed to shake up his cabinet.

 

The story has been a boom for Sudani’s opponents like Maliki. For weeks now there have been reports in the Iraqi media that Maliki and others were plotting against the PM. That’s because he has grown in popularity as Iraq is experiencing the first extended period of stability since 2003. The insurgency is basically dead in Iraq. There are no longer massive protests against the government and provincial elections were held. The only problem has been attacks upon U.S. forces by pro-Iran Hashd groups. Originally Sudani was picked because the main Shiite leaders hoped he would be a figurehead leader. Factions within the Framework are now afraid that Sudani will build upon his standing by creating his own party in the next elections and win a second term. As a result they have been plotting on ways to take him down.

 

Enemies of the premier have allegedly been spreading negative stories about him on social media. That had little effect. Now this spying controversy has given the opposition a way to directly attack Sudani for his abuse of power. This struggle between the ruling Shiite parties will continue to play out in the coming months.

 

SOURCES

 

Al Aalem, “Al-Sudani snatches the stay card from the angry Framework .. and the dispute between them intensifies,” 9/11/24

 

Asharq Al-Awsat, “Maliki Pressuring Iraq PM to Resign Following Confessions in Wire-tapping Scandal,” 9/9/24

 

Iraq Oil Report, “Analysis: Sudani agenda faces rising political risks as elections approach,” 7/8/24

 

Al Mada, “Campaigns led by parties in the Coordination Framework seek to weaken the Prime Minister,” 9/3/24

- “People close to Al-Sudani deny the existence of a wiretapping network: The case was used to undermine the popularity of the Prime Minister,” 9/6/24

 

Reuters, “No spying took place by employees of Iraqi prime minister’s office: Adviser,” 9/7/24