{"id":8110,"date":"2020-07-08T10:24:16","date_gmt":"2020-07-08T07:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?p=8110"},"modified":"2020-07-22T16:36:40","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T13:36:40","slug":"prime-minister-mustafa-al-kazemis-financial-reform-program-to-combat-corruption-accumulated-challenges-and-a-limited-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/monitoring-and-translation\/reports\/prime-minister-mustafa-al-kazemis-financial-reform-program-to-combat-corruption-accumulated-challenges-and-a-limited-response\/","title":{"rendered":"Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi\u2019s Financial Reform Program to Combat Corruption: Accumulated Challenges and a Limited Response"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Iraq\u2019s financial reforms are interconnected with the government\u2019s fight against  corruption. This  has been one of the most sensitive issues facing  successive governments since 2003. Combating corruption is now a top priority for Mustafa al-Kazemi\u2019s government  and  an important part of its financial reform program. Al- Kazemi came to power as a result of the October 2019 protests. His financial reform program, approved by the House of  Representatives,  focused on combating corruption.  However, there is a lack of clarity  concerning  the systems that Kazemi will adopt to fight corruption. For example, it is unclear how Kazemi will return smuggled funds from outside the country or address financial corruption.   To effectively fight corruption, there needs to be a certain level of political consensus and support. Perhaps this explains Kazemi’s resolute stance with regard to the anti-corruption file. He has held several meetings with the three presidencies and Iraqi political blocs  to convince them of the urgent need  to combat corruption and  to control  government spending.  Despite the opposition of some political blocs, Kazemi  is determined to  rationalize government expenditures which have burdened the state budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iraq\u2019s urgent need  to  combat corruption has coincided with Iraq\u2019s  growing economic challenges, increased government spending, the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and a drop in global oil prices. These developments  have  forced Kazemi to  make the anti-corruption file  a top priority for  his government.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I- The Reality of Corruption: Double-Standards and Legitimate Expenditures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corruption has spread in  Iraq due to  a number of reasons such as the country\u2019s failure to define a well-thought out public policy and strengthen monitoring capabilities post 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iraq\u2019s public policy  did not clearly set  out  regulations to integrate  the public and private sectors.  Private companies \u2013 owned by influential government officials \u2013 were prioritized at the expense of  public institutions. Therefore, corruption  penetrated decision-making circles to such an extent that it cannot now be easily addressed.  Corruption is difficult to fight in Iraq due to a lack of trust  between the government and the  political blocs  in Parliament. This deficit has meant it has been impossible to reach a  strong political consensus  to actually start fighting corruption. Nevertheless,  rampant corruption exists at the institutional level  due to the absence of well-defined  public policies, as a result of which state institutions have remained weak when compared to other sectors which are linked to powerful political figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, Iraq\u2019s annual budget is an operational  budget, not an investment one, because it relies on oil revenues to finance government expenditures. The government\u2019s old policies,  particularly those within the framework of  \u2018transitional justice,\u2019 have placed significant pressure on state spending patterns,  and have led to an increase in corruption as the \u2018transitional justice laws\u2019  were easily exploited. This may complicate the process of fighting  corruption and its multiple facets, which require real economic reforms. Most studies and reports acknowledge the great difficulties and  challenges in combating corruption.  This is because fighting corruption is dependent on laws that limit the ability of decision-makers. The laws are shaped by political agendas that restrict decision-makers further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018transitional justice laws\u2019 concerning \u2018Rafha\u2019 detainees, \u2018the Iraqi martyrs,\u2019  and other groups have contributed to creating a kind of social discrimination because these groups have not been provided with complete compensation but only monthly salaries. According to Law No. 35 (2013), Rafha detainees  were granted political prisoner privileges  in accordance with the provisions of the law.<\/a> The same law addresses   minors and children who were arrested with their family members  or relatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Iraq\u2019s financial institutions were unable  to  supervise and monitor the financial allocations to the groups  identified within the country\u2019s \u2018transitional justice laws\u2019\u2014 taking into consideration  that the groups covered by the laws include  Iraqis who reside outside Iraq. Iraqi residents abroad constitute an unclear number.  In addition, they have had no contact with Iraq since the 1990s because they settled outside the country and have become nationals of other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, some of these laws led to employees in Iraq receiving   duplicate salaries, and granted them employees\u2019 rights permitting them  to receive more than one salary from the state. This duplication led to  two issues. First,  it limited the availability of government revenues in order   to recruit new employees and hindered its ability to address unemployment which has been on the increase   since 2003. Second, it created an unjust and flawed system with regard to government salaries. Addressing this issue has  been difficult   because it requires new legislation and policies to ensure  meaningful change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The legal framework that regulates   the allocation  of funding  for certain groups identified in Iraq\u2019s \u2018transitional justice laws;\u2019 the duplication of jobs; and the  ensuing corruption due to weaknesses in financial oversight and auditing, have  aggravated the difficulty in resolving  the problems related to transitional justice \u2014  amid the government\u2019s efforts to  rationalize expenditures  and combat corruption. Moreover, transitional justice is  interwoven with the interests of influential political parties in Iraq.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

II- The Re-evaluation of Expenditures and the Limits of Financial Reform<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of  accumulated and overlapping complications, Mustafa al-Kazemi froze  the salaries and allowances  provided to Rafha detainees and  other groups  under the country\u2019s \u2018transitional justice laws.\u2019  To maintain political stability,  Kazemi clarified that this step  was taken to rationalize expenditures,   not to cancel them, and to achieve a balance between expenditures in light of the current economic circumstances and challenges facing the state since the beginning of the current year. At the same time, freezing  salaries and allowances  is the initial step in  reviewing government spending policies and dealing with suspicious files that have been part of government policy since 2003.  The impacted groups and their political representatives have criticized Kazemi\u2019s  steps.  Muhammad al-Hindawi, a former parliamentarian and head of the Martyrs, Victims and Political Prisoners Committee, stated<\/a> that the steps  undertaken by  Kazemi in relation to the Rafha detainees  and other political prisoners will have ramifications for him and his ability to manage the cabinet. These remarks clearly indicate the possibility of political opposition arising   which  will impact   Kazemi\u2019s ability to continue in government, or  will pressure his government to retreat  from the policies that impact  the aforementioned  groups. It appears  that the political positions adopted by most political blocs reflect their opposition  to  the steps undertaken  by Kazemi.  Those representing the groups  impacted by Kazemi\u2019s policies went to prominent political leaders such as the former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the President of the National Wisdom Movement Ammar al-Hakim and other leaders for their support. As a result, these leaders   supported the groups opposed to the reform policies pursued by Kazemi. These partisan and political positions  seek to undermine  the prime minister’s policies  which aim to root  out  corruption, or  at least to reduce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kazemi\u2019s meeting with a team of financial advisers was a serious step demonstrating   that he has  no intention to back off. The government  will pursue rational policies,  financial and economic reforms and introduce new steps to control  border crossings  to be handled by  Iraq\u2019s counter-terrorism apparatus. In addition,  the government will introduce other new steps to  end  the control of some political parties  over private banks and financial institutions. This expected step led to much popular support for  Kazemi despite  political opposition to it. It is expected that the government’s revenues from monitoring  border crossing movements and the transactions of private banks will contribute to covering  a large percentage  of the fiscal deficit that the government faces, due to  the country\u2019s economic crisis and low oil prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Banks significantly  impact market liquidity, the exchange rate of the US dollar to the Iraqi dinar and the flow of funds to  the labor market. However,  the spread of corruption has changed the functions of some Iraqi banks,  limiting  their operations to  currency speculation.  These banks, sometimes,  develop financial influence due to the support of powerful politicians who are board members,  or because some banks are implicitly affiliated to political parties,   or officially registered under intermediaries or businessmen. Accordingly, the operations of banks  have become dependent  on  the profits they   accumulate  via currency auctions offered by the Central Bank of Iraq. The money the Central Bank gains from  buying and selling the dollar is the most important part of its work. Kazemi’s strategy to extend control  over the work of these banks and fight corruption in the currency market  will positively impact the investment market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although some believe that such steps  will not resolve the economic challenges facing Iraq, they are  necessary to initiate economic and financial reform, especially since  they have contributed to lowering government expenditures by identifying  and halting the payment of nearly  40,000 double salaries in six ministries. This number is expected to increase, especially since Iraq is making progress in financial governance. The implementation of these governance programs is supervised by the Ministry of Finance and the World Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

III-  Kazemi\u2019s Options in Saudi Arabia Compared to Iran<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kazemi\u2019s government is looking for new options that support the country\u2019s economic and financial sectors, and to diversify  the country\u2019s revenue streams. The possible options include  supporting  Iraq\u2019s agricultural  and  industrial sectors and increasing external borrowing, which would enable Iraq  to overcome its  immediate economic challenges. It seems that Iraq is truly targeting, for example, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to secure new areas of cooperation in energy and finance. Kazemi considers Saudi Arabia to be an important political actor, and believes  signing agreements with it in the economic sphere  can lead to  fruitful cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of oil, gas and desalination. Iraq  needs to urgently cooperate with Saudi Arabia with regard to its electricity need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some cooperation agreements signed between Iraq and Saudi Arabia focus on the importance of strengthening partnerships in the field of agriculture, and investing in  the Jamwa Samawah and Anbar  road projects to improve geographical links. Also, cooperation between the two countries involves establishing a dry port in one of Iraq\u2019s cities similar to  the one  in Riyadh. This dry port links Riyadh via  Saudi territory to one of the Kingdom’s ports on  the Red Sea. Many Iraqi economists are proposing  such options to support openness and cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kazemi is working to establish a balanced openness with  Iraq\u2019s regional neighborhood because he is aware of the regional competitiveness surrounding the country.  Some believe that this Iraqi balanced openness is to allay Iran’s concerns with  the Iraqi prime minister opening the door to the country to possibly learn from Iran\u2019s experience in banking. This was clearly reflected in Iraqi government data after  Iran\u2019s Central Bank governor visited Iraq and met  with Kazemi. However, the Iranian banking system is not  of great importance to Iraq because it does not significantly differ from the Iraqi banking system. In addition, the Iranian banking system is subject to international sanctions which can be extended to Iraq if it works with the Iranian banking system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to government  priorities, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia looks more closely   to Iraq for several reasons, notably  the sanctions imposed on Iran, which may affect Iraq if  Tehran disturbs  the regional security interests of the United States of America. Baghdad’s support for bilateral trade with Iran will give it greater ability to maneuver with the United States. Iraqi-American dialogue is conditioned  on  Baghdad reassessing its relationship with Tehran   in order to  support the interests of the United States in the region, or maintaining a balance. The economic partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the investment incentives are of importance to Iraq, especially since   all financial indicators  push Kazemi to engage in  far-reaching economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia across a range of different sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Iraq\u2019s financial reform policies will contribute greatly to rationalizing government expenditures, and overcoming major challenges with regard to  administrative and financial corruption. These reform policies require political consensus and support, as    Kazemi\u2019s reform program is  apparently  still facing some political challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, it can be said that Kazemi has won the first round in the ongoing political battle to initiate reforms. This   could lead to  the development of a new financial system which can help in addressing  the crises facing the state.  In addition, it  can help in establishing a platform to create a consensus   between the government and  political parties  to fight  corruption and rationalize  state expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Iraq\u2019s financial reforms are interconnected with the government\u2019s fight against  corruption. This  has been one of the most sensitive issues facing  successive governments since 2003. Combating corruption is now a top priority for Mustafa al-Kazemi\u2019s government  and  an important part of its financial reform program. Al- Kazemi came to power as a result of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":8111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[148,5456,5455],"class_list":["post-8110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reports","tag-corruption","tag-financial-reform","tag-mustafa-al-kazemi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8110"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8110\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8113,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8110\/revisions\/8113"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}