Politics of Iraq

Politics of Iraq

Benedict (Viktor) Gombocz

Iraq: Geography Location: Middle East, bordering the

Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait Area:

Total: 438,317 sq km Country comparison to the world: 59 Land: 437,367 km Water: 950 sq km

Area – comparative: Slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

Land boundaries: Total: 3,650 km Border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan

181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km

Coastline: 58 km

Iraq: Physical Map

Politics of Iraq: Introduction Iraqi politics operate in a structure of a federal parliamentary representative

democratic republic. Iraq is a multi-party system in which executive power is held by the PM of the

Council of Ministers as the head of government, as well as by Iraq’s President; legislative power is vested in the Council of Representatives and the Federation Council.

Nouri al-Maliki, who exercises most of the executive power and nominates the Council of Ministers (which acts as a cabinet and/or government), is Iraq’s current PM.

Politics of Iraq: Government Capital (and largest city): Baghdad Official languages: Arabic, Kurdish* Demonym: Iraqi Government: Federal parliamentary

constitutional republic President: Jalal Talabani Prime Minister: Nouri al-Maliki Speaker of the Council of

Representatives: Usama al-Nujayfi Legislature: Council of

Representatives

*Constitution of Iraq, Article 4 (1st)

Politics of Iraq: History The Ba’ath Party governed Iraq prior to the fall of Saddam Hussein’s government in

April 2003. Starting with the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, the country was under occupation by

foreign troops, with military forces mostly from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Most foreign military forces functioned under the umbrella of the Multinational force in Iraq (the MNF-I), approved under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1546, 1637, 1723, and 1790 until December 31, 2008.

The U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement went into effect on January 1, 2009. The occupation gave way to a transitional administrative law, which was replaced by

the Constitution of Iraq after approval in a referendum held on October 15, 2005. In the December 2005 Iraqi legislative elections, a permanent 275-member Council of

Representatives was elected; this formed the Government of Iraq, 2006-2010. The January 2010 Iraqi legislative elections were the most recent elections.

Politics of Iraq: Federal government Under the current Iraqi constitution, Iraq’s federal

government is identified as an Islamic, democratic, federal parliamentary republic; the federal government is made up of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, along with various independent commissions.

The Council of Representatives and a Federation Council make up the legislative branch.

The President, the PM, and the Council of Ministers make up the executive branch.

The Higher Judicial Council, the Supreme Court, the Court of Cassation, the Public Prosecution Department, the Judiciary Oversight Commission, and other federal courts (one of which is the Central Criminal Court) that are controlled by law make up the federal judiciary.

The Independent High Commission for Human Rights, the Independent High Electoral Commission, and the Commission on Integrity are independent committees subject to observing by the Council of Representatives.

The Central Bank of Iraq, the Board of Supreme Audit, the Communications and Media Commission, and the Endowment Commission are economically and administratively independent institutes.

The Foundation of Martyrs is attached to the Council of Ministers.

The Federal Public Service Council controls the matters of the federal public service, like appointment and promotion.

Politics of Iraq: Local government The basic subdivisions of Iraq are the provinces and the governorates. Both provinces and governorates are granted a high degree of self-government;

provinces are allowed extra powers, including control of internal security forces for the province, like police, security forces, and guards.

The most recent local elections for the governorates took place in the 2009 Iraqi governorate elections on 31 January 2009.

Politics of Iraq: Regions In accordance with the constitution, the Council of Representatives pass a law which

gives the methods for making a new province six months from the commencement of its first meeting.

On 11 October 2006, a law was passed by an unanimous vote with only 138 out of 275 delegates present; the remaining delegates declined to vote; legislators from the Iraqi Accord Front, Sadrist Movement, and Islamic Virtue Party were opposed to the bill.

Under the law, a province can be made out of one or more existing governorates (or two or more existing provinces); a governorate may also join an existing province to make a new province.

A new province can be suggested by one-third or more of the council members in each affected governorate, and additionally, 500 voters or by one-tenth or more voters in each affected governorate.

A referendum must take place within three months; it requires a simple majority in favour of passing.

In the likelihood of contending offers, the multiple offers are added to a ballot; the offer with the most supporters is added to the referendum.

In the likelihood of an affirmative referendum, a Transitional Legislative Assembly is elected for one year; its responsibility is to draft a constitution for the province, which is subsequently added to a referendum that requires a simple majority to pass.

Unlike the Iraqi Council of Representatives (which requires two-thirds support), the President, the PM, and Ministers of the province are elected by a simple majority.

Politics of Iraq: Corruption According to Transparency International, Iraq is the most corrupt government in the

Middle East; as such, it is categorized as a “hybrid régime”, i.e., a mixture of a “flawed democracy” and an “authoritarian régime”.

The 2011 report “Costs of War” from Brown University’s Watson Institute for International Studies found that United States military presence in Iraq failed to prevent such corruption; as early as 2006, it was noted that "there were clear signs that post-Saddam Iraq was not going to be the linchpin for a new democratic Middle East."

Jalal Talabani Born 12 November 1933 in Kelkan. Sixth and current President of Iraq, and a

leading Kurdish politican, making him the first non-Arab president of Iraq, even though Abdul Karim Qasim was partly of Kurdish descent.

Founder and secretary general of one of the major Kurdish political parties, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

Was a famous member of the Interim Iraq Governing Council, which was set up after the deposal of the Saddam Hussein régime by the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Has been a proponent for Kurdish rights and democracy in Iraq for over 50 years.

His native Kurdish aside, he speaks Arabic, Persian, and English.

Is a member of Socialist International.

Nouri al-Maliki Born 20 June 1950 in Hindiya; also known as Jawad

al-Maliki or Abu Esraa.

74th and current PM of Iraq, since 20 May 2006, and the secretary-general of the Islamic Dawa Party.

Al-Maliki and his government replaced the Iraqi Transitional Government.

Currently in his second term as PM.

His first Cabinet was approved by the National Assembly, assuming office on 20 May 2006; his second Cabinet, in which he occupies the post of acting Interior Minister, acting Defense Minister, and acting National Security Minister, was approved on 21 December 2010.

Started his political career as a Shia dissident under Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship in the late 1970s, rising to importance after he evaded a death sentence into exile for 24 years; during his time overseas, he became a senior leader of Dawa, directed the activities of anti-Saddam guerillas, establishing ties with Iranian and Syrian officials who assistance he wished to arrange Saddam’s deposal.

Despite working closely with the United States and coalition forces in Iraq since they withdrew in late 2011, allegations have surfaced that al-Maliki has attempted to gain control over the armed groups in his country as a way to strengthen the PM’s authority and exclude Sunni opposition.

Usama al-Nujayfi Born 1956 in Mosul.

Current Speaker of the Council of Representatives since 11 November 2010; was also Minister of Industry in the Iraqi Transitional Government.

According to a political ballot in 2010, his name was listed as Usama Abdulaziz Mohammad Abdulaziz.

Born to a rich family of landlords and politicians; has a degree in electrical engineering, having earned it from the University of Mosul in 1978, later working in the Iraqi government’s electricity ministry for 12 years; was involved in building power plants in Iraq, and founded his own company in 1992.

As Minister of Industry, he privatised most of the state-run corporations which included firms working in sectors from petrochemical and cement to sugar, silk, and heavy commerce.

Campaigned in opposition to the approval of the Constitution of Iraq.

Was appointed by the Iraqi National List to be a member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives after the December 2005 Iraqi legislative election; later led a parliamentary commission.

Caused a walkout by Kurdish MPs in September 2006 when he claimed that the villages around Mosul were of Arab origin; his bodyguard was killed that same month.

Alleged in October 2008 that Kurdish peshmerga and intelligence operatives were responsible for the 2008 attacks on Christians in Mosull.

Brother of the current governor of Ninawa Governorate, Atheel al-Nujaifi.

Religion in Iraq Islam, practiced by around 97% of Iraqis, is the largest

religion practiced in Iraq, despite contradiction of these numbers in more recent poll results.

Christianity and other religions make up the remaining 3%.

A number of Iraqi cities, such as Najaf, Karbala, Baghdad, and Samarra, have been areas of historical importance for both Shia and Sunni Muslims.

Religion statistics Muslim (official): 97% (Shia 60-65%, Sunni 32%-37%) Christian or other: 3% (note: whereas there has been intended relocation of

many Christian families to northern Iraq, recent reporting shows that the general Christian population may have declined by as much as 50 percent since the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s government in the spring of 2003; many have escaped to Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.

Baghdad

The End (النهاية)