Following dismissal of former head

Dhi Qar provincial council elects new head amid controversy

2024-08-15 | 16:09

DHI QAR — The Dhi Qar Provincial Council elected Ezat Awda Al-Nashi from the Nabni Coalition as its new head on Thursday. The election took place during a session held at the police headquarters, attended by 14 members of the council, while four were absent.

This leadership change follows the council’s decision on Wednesday to dismiss the previous head, Abdul-Baqi Al-Omari, over allegations of misuse of power and poor management. The vote to remove Al-Omari, which saw eleven out of 18 attending members in favor, took place during a contentious session.

Al-Omari responded to his dismissal by warning of a “political coup” and argued that such a move violated existing agreements. “Baghdad is the only authority empowered to enforce or terminate these agreements,” he stated, highlighting the potential wider political impact.

Ahmed Al-Asadi, Iraq’s minister of labor and leader of the Khadamat Alliance, vocally opposed the dismissal. In a voice message, Al-Asadi expressed steadfast support for Al-Omari, stating, “We in the Khadamat Alliance firmly reject everything related to the dismissal of the head of the provincial council, as he represents us, and we continue to support him in his position.” He advocated for addressing any issues through dialogue to “correct deficiencies” and focus on serving the governorate.

The session’s location outside the usual council building settings mirrored the Diyala and Kirkuk council sessions held at Baghdad Al-Rasheed Hotel, which similarly appointed governors amid significant controversy.

Former Dhi Qar Governor and current council member Mohammed Hadi Al-Ghazi supported the dismissal, arguing that the council needed a change to achieve political stability. “The Dhi Qar Provincial Council is not defined by one person, regardless of their power and influence,” Al-Ghazi commented. He dismissed the idea that the dismissal involved any conspiracy, asking rhetorically, “What benefit would there be in participating in a conspiracy to oust him, and what advantage is there in appointing another colleague from the same bloc?”

Al-Ghazi emphasized that the ongoing lack of political stability had hampered the council’s oversight functions. “While I do not place the blame on anyone in particular, it was necessary to break the deadlock caused by the lack of harmony among the members, which rendered the council’s decisions weak and ineffective, even for our colleagues in the executive government,” he explained.

Expressing optimism about the future, Al-Ghazi hoped the new council head would “learn from past mistakes” and revitalize the council’s activities.