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Iraqi parliament approves reforms

August 11, 2015

The Iraqi parliament has approved a reform program put forth by the prime minister following mass protests. The program aims to combat corruption and reduce government waste.

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Symbolbild Irak Kabinett Diskussion Parlament
Image: Reuters/Iraqi PM Media Office

"It was unanimously approved," parliamentary speaker Saleem al-Jabouri said, noting that Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's reform program passed without a debate.

Al-Jabouri said he hoped that "today's move will be the first and not the last to continue in the path of the reform with the same spirit and without any hesitation."

The reforms were detailed on Sunday in an online statement by the prime minister.

The statement called for abolishing high-level posts, including those of the three vice presidents and three deputy prime ministers, in a bid to cut government spending.

The reforms package also included the formation of an anti-corruption commission.

'With an iron fist'

The Shiite prime minster gained a boost for implementing reforms on Friday, when Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani - Iraq's senior Shiite cleric - called for drastic change in Iraq.

Al-Sistani - Iraq's senior Shiite cleric - urged the Iraqi premier to strike corruption "with an iron fist."

Spurred by al-Sistani's call, protesters over the weekend braved Baghdad's streets amid a brutal heat wave, calling for an end to widespread government corruption.

The parliament also approved its own package, which included sacking the ministers of finance and electricity, reducing the security detail assigned to ministers and reforming the judicial system.

ls/kms (AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)