Thursday, July 10, 2025
spot_img

Iraq gets new PM as protests enter 5th month

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

Baghdad: Iraqi President Barham Saleh named Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi as the new Prime Minister with the task of addressing the massive popular dissatisfaction behind the four months of anti-government protests that have left nearly 500 people dead.
Allawi acknowledged the protesters in a video posted on Twitter after his appointment was announced on Saturday, reports Efe news.
“My power is derived from you. If it were not for your courage and sacrifices then there would have been no changes in the country,” he said.
“You protested for your homeland, and if I am not able to fulfil your demands that I am unworthy of this position,” he added.
The 65-year-old Allawi held the post of Communications Minister in the government of Nouri al-Maliki before quitting in 2012 over what he described as “political interference” by the then-prime minister.
“I’m an employee carrying your trust, so do not go back until you get what you want, whether from me or someone else,” he said, encouraging protesters to remain in the streets.
He pledged to pay compensation to the families of the 467 protest “martyrs” and to ensure proper medical care for the more than 9,000 others, who have been injured.
Though his chief responsibility will be to set a date for new elections, Allawi, likewise, vowed to work to improve the economy and battle corruption.
The new prime minister, who has 30 days to form a government that must then secure parliamentary approval, said that he would brook no attempts by the various political factions to control his choice of cabinet ministers.
“If the political blocs try to impose their candidates on me, then I will resign,” Allawi said.
His predecessor, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, resigned on December 1, 2019 in a bid to mollify the protesters, but had remained in a caretaker capacity given the inability of lawmakers to agree on a successor.
The parties finally settled on Allawi, but only after Saleh gave Parliament until February 1 to make a decision or see him assert his constitutional prerogative to act unilaterally.
On Friday, the spiritual leader of Iraq’s Shia Muslim majority, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, urged politicians to expedite the formation of a new government.
The protest movement that began last October entered a new phase following the January 3 killing of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in an American drone attack in Baghdad.
Meanwhile, Moqtada al-Sadr, an influential Shia cleric and militia leader who had supported the protests, withdrew his backing to focus on the push to get the US to leave, though he renewed contacts with the protesters on Friday.
He also welcomed the appointment of Allawi, saying: “We hope that Allawi does not bow to external and internal pressures, that he announces his programme and expedites early elections… and that he seeks the sovereignty and independence of Iraq.” (IANS)

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

3rd Test: Sachin Tendulkar rings iconic five-minute bell at the start of Lord’s Test

London, July 10: Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar rang the iconic five-minute bell to begin day one of the...

Anti-rabies vaccination drive kicks off in Sivasagar town of Assam

Guwahati, July 10: With the objective to prevent transmission and occurrence of fatal zoonotic diseases like Rabies, the...

3rd Test: Bumrah replaces Prasidh as England elect to bat first against India

London, July 10: Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer will be seen in action at Lord’s, as England won...

Rajnath Singh hails PM Modi’s leadership, praises successful five-nation visit

New Delhi, July 10: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent five-nation official...