News & Events
ARTICLE: Premature excitement about Iraq’s new government reforms
By Zaid Al-Ali, August 15, 2015
WASHINGTON POST: Following more than a decade of decrepit government performance and spurred by popular protests in many parts of the country, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi proposed a reform plan on Aug. 8, which was thenexpanded and approved unanimously by parliament on Aug. 11.
The plan was met with widespread approval within Iraq and abroad: Protesters carried signs saying that they were “delegating” the prime minister to reform the government; the Shiite religious establishment in Najaf offered its full support; Iraqi and international commentators were also quick to praise the plan.
However, having reviewed it in detail and having followed developments in Iraq’s governance structure for the past 10 years, I felt deeply depressed after reading Abadi’s plan. Had I been given an opportunity to do so, I would have voted against it.