Baghdad:Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has reaffirmed his commitment to combating corruption in Iraq, acknowledging the progress made in the past five months in weakening its presence within the government, although it has not been completely eradicated. He emphasized that efforts to counteract corruption will persist to prevent its spread within state institutions.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Zaidi highlighted in a televised interview with Al-Iraqiya News that corruption has become ingrained as a system and culture for some individuals. He stressed the importance of confronting this issue as a crucial aspect of state-building. Despite facing pressures, Al-Zaidi stated that he remains undeterred in his mission to fight corruption, suggesting that more actions in this campaign are forthcoming.

Al-Zaidi acknowledged that his anti-corruption stance could potentially cost him personal relationships, including losing close friends. He emphasized that there will be no favoritism in handling corruption cases and that efforts have led to the recovery of funds from various locations.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister detailed that the government has implemented a mechanism to audit contracts before they are signed, aiming to prevent corruption at its source rather than merely reacting after it occurs. He reiterated that corruption is not associated with any specific sect or ethnic group and stressed the importance of addressing cases without political or social bias, advocating for universal accountability and anti-corruption standards.