Iraqi Dinar Updates

Is Maliki’s new government a true ‘national partnership’ or a magical arrangement to avoid conflict? Maliki speaks of a big increase in the dinar

Posted: January 13, 2011 by CURRENCY NEWSHOUND – Just Hopin in Iraqi Dinar/Politics
Tags: Baghdad, Business and Economy, Economy of Iraq, Iraq, Maliki, middle east, Nouri al-Maliki, University of Baghdad

Maliki should have sought to form a government that is balanced but effective – that is, one able to govern and ditch the legacy of the past, not simply satisfy the ambitions of some of those working in politics. There are basically thousands of people in Iraq today who believe that they are qualified to become ministers, senior officials and leaders – either because they have opposed the previous regime, and thereby acquired ‘freedom fighter’s legitimacy’ (especially those incarcerated); or because they possess advanced degrees, which of course entitles them to ‘knowledge legitimacy’! Or, because they are tribal sheikhs or clergymen, which gives them ‘historical’ or ‘religious’ legitimacy. Or, because they have appointed themselves as leaders of ethnic groups, sects, orders or regions, and this ‘legitimizes’ their demands to be in government. Most important for many is to be in the government, even if it’s only in name.

What has encouraged the spread of this phenomenon in Iraq is that some unsuitable and unqualified people have made it to becoming ministers and senior officials in the last three governments. This has enticed others to let their imaginations loose and seek high office, even if they are not qualified. Secondly, the financial and moral perks which people can get when becoming ministers, officials, or even advisors or managers, are enormous: huge salaries that they draw from the state, and the high social status they acquire out of joining the government, induce many to seek, painstakingly, to secure a governmental position, using whatever means are available to them. The pension that they get afterwards is also very tempting: 80% of final salary, for everyone who reaches the grade of an advisor and above, even if they worked for a week! There are very many youthful pensioners nowadays in Iraq, many having worked briefly as members of parliament or for provincial governing councils, or as aides or advisors for this official or that official – this is in addition to those forced to retire by the De-Baathification law, who run into tens of thousands. The Iraqi Retirement Act made Iraq a country of young pensioners.

This policy will certainly inflict more and more harm on the Iraqi economy, for two reasons at least. First, it has frozen the energies and expertise of many people who are able to work. Second, it obliges the state to spend on people who could otherwise be productive taxpayers. The state also pays for the guards of some retired officials whose numbers run into hundreds, in addition paying their living, transport and office management expenses. One of those participating in the government revealed to me that one retired official had 800 guards, all paid for by the state, while he lives in the fortified Green Zone!

The other feature of the Maliki government is the shrinking representation of women – who occupied almost one fifth of ministerial positions in past governments – despite the increase in the number of ministries. Navin Dakhail Saeed, a female member of parliament, refused to take the position of Minster for Women in protest at the absence of women in the new government. Ms Dakhil Saeed deserves to be saluted for this principled position, so rare in today’s Iraq. Maliki blamed other political blocs for not fielding women candidates as minsters, but he admitted that one of the blocs did in fact do so, for one ministerial position at least – but he rejected her. It’s not a secret that the political list that fielded the woman candidate was ‘Iraqia’, the woman candidate was Maysoon Aldamluji, and the ministry was that of Culture. The question is why did Maliki reject Miss Aldamluji as minister for Culture? Was it because she had no experience? Certainly not, since she was the deputy minister for culture between 2003 and 2006. According to those who worked with her, she was one of the most able deputy ministers at the time. Was it for her lack of political skills? Of course not: Aldamluji is a well-known politician and women’s activist, who has devoted all her time to political and cultural work. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of Noon Magazine which specialises in women’s issues. She is also the spokeswomen of the Iraqia List and a member of parliament for four years. Was it for her lack of academic qualifications? Impossible: She holds a BSc and MSc in architecture from the University of London. This is in addition to her membership of many prestigious professional associations. She is also from a well-known family noted for its scientific and political credentials. Her uncle is Abdulla Aldamluji, the founder of Iraqi diplomacy and the first Iraqi foreign minster. Her parents were the late Drs Salim Aldamluji and Lama’an Amin Zaki, the medical professors at the University of Baghdad, who graduated hundreds of Iraqi doctors. More important than all of this is that she is very popular in the political and cultural media. Therefore, Maliki’s refusal to appoint her as Minister of Culture has nothing to do with the lack of expertise, qualifications or suitability, which he always talks about. It’s probably because she is a secular woman who has the potential to succeed, which will be recorded in favour of his political opponents. He may have listened to advice from advisors who do not wish to see any worthy change at the Ministry of Culture. Maliki’s position against Maysoon Aldamluji has in fact harmed him politically and put him in direct conflict with the women’s movement and the cultural community. But, it seems that he is not really concerned with any critical views.

Maliki’s government’s 43-point programme didn’t contain one single specific point, but instead, talked about a ‘big decrease’ in the rate of inflation and a ‘big increase’ in the value of the Iraqi dinar! It talked about support for the economy, media, women, and improving services, living standards and security, but without mentioning any numbers or specific proposals. If the Prime Minster doesn’t know how much the rate of inflation has fallen and how much the value of the dinar has gone up, who should?

Maliki’s programme has made no mention of the restrictions on personal freedoms which members of his party in provincial governing councils have imposed on people. These restrictions are illegal and unconstitutional, and are inspired by religious persuasions which are harmful to the interests of the Iraqi people and country at large. They do not respect people’s choices in life. Will Maliki’s partners try to remedy this situation? Are they really able to? And, does the issue of personal and people’s freedoms really matter to current political forces? Questions that no one has answers for, so far.

Some of the strong points of the Maliki government is that it has important and strong personalities who will contribute to the success of the government if they are persuaded by the correctness of the government path, and believe in the sincerity of its direction. Many Iraqis wished to see more changes in faces and positions, but this has hardly happened. The prevailing culture in today’s Iraq is for incumbents to hold onto their positions at any cost, and never give up a position under any circumstances, since they are regarded as personal sinecures. But renewal will always remain a basic popular demand regarding all positions, be they political, cultural or business.

Interesting reading about the new Iraqi parliament.

BAGHDAD (AFP) – Iraq’s new parliament will finally convene next week, an official said Tuesday, paving the way for the formation of a new government more than three months after nationwide polls.

The June 14 opening of the Council of Representatives comes after Iraq’s supreme court ratified the results of the March 7 general election which put ex-premier Iyad Allawi’s Iraqiya bloc in the lead, followed closely by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s State of Law alliance.

“The president (Jalal Talabani) decided that the parliament will meet on Monday, June 14,” Nasir al-Ani, head of the Iraqi presidency’s office, told AFP.

Once parliament is convened, Iraq’s constitution states that MPs must first select a speaker, and then choose a new president.

The president will then call on the leader of the biggest parliamentary bloc to form a government, giving him 30 days to do so.

Iraq’s supreme court on June 1 ratified the results of the election, confirming initial figures which showed Iraqiya won 91 seats in the 325-member parliament, followed by State of Law’s 89.

The Iraqi National Alliance (INA), led by Shiite religious groups, came third with 70, while a bloc of Kurdish parties hold 59 seats.

The court has opined, however, that a coalition agreed before parliament first meets would gain primacy over Iraqiya if it held more combined seats.

Earlier this month, State of Law and the INA announced they would form a post-election coalition, leaving them just short of a majority, though they have yet to formalise the arrangement.

Allawi, though, insisted on Tuesday that his grouping should have the first opportunity to form a government.

“Discussions and dialogue that have taken place (with rival blocs) indicate that Iraqiya was the winner,” he told reporters in Baghdad.

“In my estimation, Iraqiya is the one group that can transform Iraq.”

The fact that no clear winner emerged from the election has meant that protracted coalition negotiations have ensued as blocs jockey to form a parliamentary majority.

Full results from the election were initially expected to be ratified in early April, but counting delays, multiple complaints and appeals from political groups have caused setbacks.

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Now do they have to tell us on the 6th Sunday that they are using the new RI RATE?

Got the following article today along with his comments from a fellow dinar investor.

Looked interesting to me so I thought I’d share here.  Seems to be in line with what many are saying about early March for a dinar revaluation.

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