Iraq PM-Designate Reveals ‘Plot’ to Thwart Confidence Vote 2 Days before Session

Arab World

February 26th, 9:08am

Baghdad - Hamza Mustafa

Iraqi PM-designate Mohammed Allawi. (EPA)

Two days before a parliament vote of confidence on the new government, Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi revealed a “plot” aimed at preventing the cabinet from being approved. While political bloc have still not reached a final decision on voting for the cabinet, Allawi wrote on his official Facebook page that he uncovered a plot against the confidence vote “because passing the government would mean an end to thefts.” “Ministries will be managed by independent and impartial ministers,” he added. He said the plot calls for paying hefty sums to lawmakers so that they would not reveal their vote. The PM-designate hoped that this information was not true. Separately, leader of the Sadrist movement, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr announced the cancellation of a million-strong demonstration for Thursday that sought to surround the Green Zone in case parliament does not grant the government confidence. The heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad houses government buildings and foreign missions. In a tweet on Tuesday, Sadr said he called off the protests due to fears over the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. “I had called for million man protests and sit-ins against sectarian power-sharing and today I forbid you from them for your health and life, for they are more important to me than anything else,” he said. None of the major political forces and blocs have yet announced their support for Allawi’s appointment, except for Sadr, said an informed source from the presidency. It added that many parties have accused President Barham Salih of nominating Allawi. The source rejected the claim, stressing that the decision was taken after it was approved by the majority of Shiite political parties and blocs, except for the State of Law Coalition, headed by former PM Nuri al-Maliki. “Sunni and Kurdish leaders and a memorandum signed by 56 deputies from different parliamentary blocs agreed to this nomination,” the source affirmed. Accordingly, he added, Salih appointed Allawi in line with the constitution. “The president is bound by the constitution to assign a candidate put forward by parliamentary forces,” he explained, noting that written documents and videos are available refute the claim that Allawi is the president's candidate.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2150421/iraq-pm-designate-reveals-%E2%80%98plot%E2%80%99-thwart-confidence-vote-2-days-session