The item “strengthening state sovereignty and national security” topped the list of the “ministerial program” submitted by the Prime Minister-designate, Ali Al-Zidi, to the Speaker of Parliament, Hebat Al-Halbousi, with the hope of presenting it to the members of Parliament along with the names of the ministerial cabinet at a later time, to grant it “parliamentary confidence.”
According to Al-Zaydi’s vision, his plan to achieve this item focuses on “monopolizing weapons in the hands of the state and enforcing the rule of law,” in addition to “strengthening the capabilities of the security, intelligence and military agencies, extending state control and diversifying sources of armament.”
He also sees the importance of “developing the capabilities of the Popular Mobilization Forces in a way that enhances their combat capabilities and defines their responsibilities, tasks and role in the military and security system in accordance with the law,” not to mention “unifying the security decision and linking all resources and capabilities to the official state system.”
He stressed “combating terrorism and organized crime, and drying up their sources of funding,” in addition to “strengthening border security and developing surveillance systems according to modern technologies, and consolidating the principles of human rights and criminal justice and supporting freedom of opinion and free media.”
Al-Zaydi stressed the need to "combat terrorism and organized crime, and to dry up their sources of funding."
Under the heading of “Foreign Policy”, Al-Zaydi puts first “distancing Iraq from the axes of regional and international conflict, as a fundamental step to protect its internal stability, provide a safe environment for economic growth, attract investments and promote sustainable development, and adopt an active foreign policy based on managing relations in a balanced manner.”
It also refers to “strengthening relations with internationally influential countries, and striving to build a distinguished relationship with Arab countries, especially the Arab Gulf countries and neighboring regional countries, based on common interests, and activating the economic and strategic agreements signed with sisterly and friendly countries, in a way that strengthens bilateral relations with those countries and serves the interests of Iraq, through activating joint committees and supporting regional connectivity projects in the fields of energy, trade and transportation, including the development road, and working to find quick solutions to complete this vital project.”
Al-Zaydi addressed in his ministerial program the "activation of the strategic framework agreement with the United States of America".
It also emphasizes “adopting the principle of not allowing Iraq to be a passage or launching pad for aggression against other countries, and not allowing other countries to attack and interfere in internal affairs, as stipulated in the constitution.”
Al-Zaydi addressed in his ministerial program the “activation of the strategic framework agreement with the United States of America in a way that guarantees common interests,” as well as “strengthening the status of the Iraqi passport in a way that is consistent with the status of the Iraqi citizen, enhancing Iraq’s position in international and regional forums, and limiting international communication to official diplomatic channels.”
In addition to the two items mentioned, the program of the anticipated Al-Zidi government included 12 other axes: economic and financial reform, energy, industry, agriculture and water, governance, institutional reform and combating corruption, education, health and medical services, social protection networks and combating poverty, communications and information technology, human rights, women and children, youth and sports, culture, tourism and antiquities.
Al-Zaydi made the implementation of the program in its entirety contingent upon “the necessary financial allocations for its implementation within the framework of the state’s general budget.”
Al-Zaydi affirms that the ministerial program stems from “a comprehensive general vision of the government, and is a national commitment and pledge before the House of Representatives, to exert every effort to implement it with a spirit of discipline and responsibility, and with the combined efforts of the political forces and the unity of their decision.”
He also pledged that his government, after gaining confidence, would “formulate a detailed government program based on this approach, covering all ministries, bodies, entities not affiliated with a ministry, the Kurdistan Region, and governorates not organized into a region, according to acomprehensive and integrated national matrix that includes (priorities, objectives, programs and initiatives, procedures, measurement indicators, timelines, costs, funding sources, responsibilities, and support and assistance entities).”
He pointed out that “the federal government has full authority to amend the priorities of the curriculum and program according to the requirements of the supreme interest of the state, and the extreme necessities (security, financial, compelling circumstances),” noting “the commitment of all ministries, bodies, the Kurdistan Region and the governorates not organized into a region to accomplish the goals, tasks and responsibilities that fall upon them, according to the applicable legislation and national priorities and parameters.”
Al-Zaydi made the implementation of the program in its entirety contingent upon “the necessary financial allocations for its implementation within the framework of the state’s general budget.”
On Thursday evening, the prime minister-designate presented the ministerial program of the new government to Al-Halbousi.
The Prime Minister’s Media Office stated in a press release that this came “during a meeting between them, where the program will be circulated to the members of the Council to study it and review its details, with the names of the government formation to be submitted at a later time.”
On Thursday evening, the prime minister-designate presented the ministerial program of the new government to the Speaker of Parliament.
During the meeting, both sides emphasized “the importance of joint cooperation and coordination to proceed with the completion of the entitlement to grant confidence to the government and its ministerial program, as it is the basic pillar upon which the government builds its work and duties, based on constitutional and legal contexts.”
Political statements indicate that al-Zidi may present his cabinet, "complete or incomplete," to the House of Representatives next Tuesday, while the political forces have not yet determined the names of their candidates to fill the portfolios in the new cabinet.
Kamel Al-Akeeli, a member of the “Reconstruction and Development” coalition, told local news websites that “the government program represents an important priority for the prime minister-designate,” explaining that “submitting it to the House of Representatives lays the groundwork for forming the government and it is assumed that it will be adhered to during the next stage.”
He indicated that “next Tuesday’s session will witness a vote on part of the government cabinet,” explaining that “the formation will not be complete due to the continued disagreements over the ministries of oil, interior and finance, in addition to some other ministries.”
He stressed that “the ministerial program is supposed to be consistent with the previous government program in order to complete service projects and not disrupt them,” noting that “the Reconstruction Coalition has 51 seats in parliament and obtained four ministries, including a sovereign ministry, which is oil.”
Next Tuesday's session will see a vote on part of the government cabinet.
He indicated that “all members of the Coordination Framework are required to support the government of the designated Prime Minister Ali al-Zidi to ensure the success of the Framework and the upcoming government,” explaining that “the file of the bodies was presented to the Framework Committee and will be distributed according to the electoral entitlement of each political entity.”
He explained that “Al-Zaydi represents all the forces of the framework and the political parties, and that everyone will be involved in the new government,” adding that “the framework will present the designated prime minister with three candidates for each ministry, giving him the freedom to choose, and if he is not satisfied, the names will be replaced with other candidates.”
He pointed out that “some ministers in Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s government succeeded in managing their ministries,” noting that “the prime minister-designate has the right to choose his advisors, but this matter remains subject to agreements and party quotas.”
