Baghdad: A wave of political controversy has erupted following the Iraqi government’s recent approval of a new list of ambassadors by the Council of Ministers. The move has sparked sharp criticism over the selection process, with accusations of favoritism and political affiliations overshadowing professionalism and merit.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, issued by the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, the list, which includes 91 candidates, drew mixed reactions among political figures. While some criticized it for reinforcing sectarian and party-based quotas, others stressed the urgency of parliamentary approval to ensure Iraq’s diplomatic representation abroad is maintained.
MP Haider Al-Mutairi published the list on his official Facebook page, accusing the government of neglecting professional standards in its selections. ‘Many of the proposed names were chosen based on family and personal connections, rather than diplomatic criteria,’ he stated, adding, ‘We will not remain silent and will take the necessary legal actions.’
Meanwhile, Haid Al-Salami, a member of the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee, told Al-Zawraa that ‘there is significant parliamentary opposition to the ambassadorial list recently approved by the Council of Ministers,’ noting that ‘the nominees were selected through dominant political blocs and parties, making it unlikely for the list to pass in Parliament.’
Al-Salami emphasized that ‘the ambassadorial post is a serious and vital role, as ambassadors represent Iraq on the international stage. Appointing individuals from outside the diplomatic corps, lacking experience and qualifications, and relying on political power-sharing puts Iraq’s global reputation at risk. Frankly, this list, as it stands, poses a great danger-thus, we will oppose any attempt to pass it.’
In a related context, Al-Sabah newspaper continued to follow up on the repercussions of the delay in sending the budget schedules, highlighting a state of political and legislative stagnation that may negatively affect the overall performance of state institutions.
The newspaper confirmed, citing parliamentary sources, that the continued suspension of the budget schedules could exacerbate the liquidity crisis in ministries and government institutions, threatening the disruption of vital projects in the health, education, and infrastructure sectors, in addition to the delay in paying salaries and pensions in some provinces.
Al-Sabah reported that the Finance and Legal Committees are working on preparing a joint report to be submitted to the Presidency of the House of Representatives, which will include clear recommendations for the government to expedite the submission of the budget schedules and set a specific deadline in order to avoid further economic slowdown and damage to public services.
An economic expert interviewed by the newspaper described the delay as a ‘slow economic suicide,’ warning of its impact on the investment environment, especially amid growing concerns from both foreign and local companies about government delays-concerns that may lead some to suspend their activities or reconsider their expansion plans in Iraq.
In conclusion, Al-Sabah called for a unified national stance between the legislative and executive branches to overcome this obstacle and ensure the remainder of the current parliamentary term is completed with effective and productive performance. The newspaper also warned that continued delays may cause citizens to lose trust in state institutions and deepen public frustration with the political scene as a whole.
Al-Zaman newspaper continued its coverage of the efforts and steps being taken to implement the oil agreement between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region.
The newspaper indicated that “a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Oil is scheduled to visit the Kurdistan Region to assess the extent of the damage caused to a number of oil fields due to drone attacks, review actual production levels, and determine the delivery schedule of the agreed quantities to the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), amid ongoing efforts to implement the oil agreement ratified by the Council of Ministers.”
Citing unnamed sources, Al-Zaman reported that “the delegation’s mission will be to evaluate the level of oil production, its quantity, and the timeline for its delivery to SOMO, in preparation for the resumption of exports.”
A source from one of the oil companies told the newspaper: “We’ve been informed that a delegation from the Ministry of Oil will visit the region, but no date has been set yet.”
He added: “All of us are working toward resuming oil exports. We are not in a position to give further statements or issue any new announcements. Once all agreements are finalized, we expect the governments of Kurdistan and the federal government to release new details.”
The newspaper noted that recent reports revealed that around 70 percent of oil production in the Kurdistan Region has come to a halt, due to drone attacks carried out by unknown groups in recent days, which caused significant damage to the region’s oil infrastructure.