Badr MP calls Zaidi’s government program ‘rhetorical,’ says he lacks vision

BAGHDAD — A member of parliament from the Badr bloc criticized Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi’s ministerial program on Monday, describing it as “a rhetorical program” and saying he “does not possess a vision” for managing the next phase.

“Either al-Zaidi does not want to place obligations on himself so he will not be questioned for failing to implement them, or he truly does not possess a vision,” Zahra Luqman said in a televised interview. “The evidence is that he presented his ministerial program while he still does not know who his ministers are.”

Luqman said Zaidi “came from outside the electoral process” and accused the candidate selection process of having “departed from the logic of sovereignty, especially since candidates for prime minister were subject to an American veto.” She attributed current political problems to disagreements between the Reconstruction and Development bloc and the State of Law Coalition — specifically between Sudani and Maliki.

“We need in Iraq to learn from Iran in preparing leaders,” she said. “Iran worked on establishing leaders up to the seventh level, and this is what we need in Iraq so we can move away from personalities and personal disputes.”

Zaidi’s program, titled “A Stable State – A Productive Economy – Balanced Partnerships,” covers 14 sections including national security, foreign policy, economic reform, energy, agriculture, governance, anti-corruption, education, health, social protection, communications, human rights, youth and culture. The program is light on specifics.

Parliament is preparing for a confidence vote on the new government, with the chamber already arranged for the session, though no official date has been announced.