Zurfi Discusses New Government’s Priorities With EU Ambassadors

Arab World

March 29th, 9:04am

Baghdad- Hamza Mustafa

Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Adnan al-Zurfi during a meeting with European Union ambassadors in Baghdad on Saturday, March 28, 2020 (EPA)

Iraq’s Prime Minister-designate Adnan al-Zurfi has set his government's priorities. Few days after meeting with ambassadors of the UN Security Council’s permanent member states (P-5), Zurfi met with EU ambassadors in Iraq on Saturday. The new government’s priorities are to “meet the demands of the peaceful popular movements for free and fair early elections, address the possible financial and economic crash, work to reduce the level of poverty, restore civil peace, and extend the rule of law,” Zurfi told the ambassadors. According to a statement issued by his media office, the ambassadors expressed hope that Iraq would achieve the desired stability. hey also wished for the PM-designate to accomplish his mission by meeting people’s aspirations and boosting Iraq’s status in the region and the world. Meanwhile, political blocs and forces remain indecisive regarding the possibility of granting Zurfi’s government the parliament’s vote of confidence. Hadi al-Amiri’s Fatah Bloc continues to reject his nomination, urging him to withdraw. While Muqtada al-Sadr’s Sairoon parliamentary bloc has warned him from the consequences of responding to “the blocs’ interests.” Sairoon alliance MP Raad Hussein stated Saturday that Zurfi will lose the alliance’s support once he starts abandoning national standards. “Most of the political blocs, including those opposing Zurfi, seek attaining their own interests in the upcoming government,” Hussein stressed. Nasr coalition MP Nada Shaker, for her part, said the PM-designate’s position is still tough in the face of political forces opposing his designation. Zurfi will pay Erbil and Sulaymaniyah a visit similar to that he paid to Anbar province, Shaker said in a statement, pointing out that these visits aim at mobilizing the largest possible support to win the vote of confidence. Independent politician Karim al-Nuri told Asharq Al-Awsat the Zurfi represents the best option for Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds in Iraq. Iraq is currently facing great challenges on different levels, Nuri noted, stressing that a consensual urgent decision shall be taken among Iraqis, without delusions or misleading. The official explained that Zurfi is capable of bridging the gap between politicians and people and reassuring all Iraqi components that the coming period will lack all sorts of hatred and rivalry.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2205411/zurfi-discusses-new-government%E2%80%99s-priorities-eu-ambassadors