Advisor says recent crises linked to concern over PM Al-Sudani’s ‘change of direction’

BAGHDAD — Sabhan Mulla Jiyad, political advisor to Iraq’s prime minister, addressed the recent series of crises, including allegations of a surveillance network within the government palace. He suggested that these issues stem from concerns among certain parties and blocs that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani is beginning to move in a “different direction” from them.

Excerpts from Sabhan Mulla Jiyad’s interview with Dijlah TV:

Political work accommodates many differences in points of view, especially since the coalition supporting the government is not composed of just two or three parties, as is the case in some global experiences, but rather consists of three components, each containing 10 parties. This explains the abundance of viewpoints and disagreements over certain issues.

There is scrutiny over the work of the Al-Sudani government, and this scrutiny comes from politically close parties. It indicates the approaching elections or suggests a concern that Mr. Al-Sudani might be heading in directions different from those of some political forces.

When the case of Mohammed Juhi occurred, it was exaggerated and exploited to create confusion about the government’s work by various parties, not exclusively by the Coordination Framework. However, the government stated that this matter is left to the judiciary, which will serve as the final arbiter between us. This was reiterated in the Prime Minister’s recent speech.

The Juhi case ended as a “storm in a teacup,” as the political forces understood the problem. The judiciary issued a clear and explicit statement, urging the media to be accurate and noting that the issue is not of the magnitude being circulated. However, political conflict is intensifying and taking on greater dimensions with the approach of the elections, which is natural in democratic systems, especially in such a broad political space.

The government is proceeding with its planned program and agenda, and the more cohesive its base, the smoother its work. However, the political scene in Iraq is not built on the principle of a political majority. Even the passage of the simplest laws requires a great deal of debate, bargaining, compromise, and quota-sharing. Our current consensual democracy is not one where the law prevails over everyone.

After twenty years of consensual democracy and the major mistakes committed during that period, we need a new starting line for review, diagnosis, and amendment. In our current democracy, the law does not prevail over everyone; thus, consensus is necessary to organize the scene. Although partisan quotas exist in global systems, they do not reach the level where general managers, job grades, and other positions are divided in this manner.

Part of the heavy legacy of the past twenty years is the pressure on the judiciary. Some parties within the Coordination Framework have admitted to exerting pressure on the judiciary in previous periods. Among those who acknowledged this was Hadi Al-Amiri. However, today, the judicial authority has its tools well-established and possesses complete independence.

Many major strategic projects have been consolidated under Al-Sudani’s control through the Council of Ministers, fearing they might be exploited by party-affiliated economies. Some heads of corruption are more organized than the party structure itself, evident through numerous leaks, secret recordings, and the like.

The parliament remaining without a speaker for all this time indicates a deep-seated conflict between political forces. If they cannot agree on appointing a speaker of parliament, they will not be able to agree on a cabinet reshuffle. Therefore, Al-Sudani is compelled to link the reshuffle to the resolution of the presidency of the parliament.