Iraq's leaders have criticised the country’s political stalemate and inability to form a new government six months after nationwide elections were held.
The country's post-election period often produces deadlock, with power-sharing discussions between political blocs typically lasting about five months or longer. However, this time round those crucial talks are not happening and sporadic meetings between parties have not come close to achieving compromise.
A dispute between the two largest political blocs has led to a boycott of parliament, meaning quorum cannot be reached and voting for a new president has repeatedly failed. Iraq's parliament needs to agree on a president, who then selects the largest bloc in parliament within 15 days, which in turn can form the government.
“The current political blockage in completing constitutional requirements and forming a new government has become a worrying and unacceptable matter, and if it continues, will lead the country into a dangerous maze,” outgoing Iraqi President Barham Salih, said late on Tuesday.
Mr Salih, among other politicians, spoke in Baghdad during a ceremony marking 41 years since the establishment of the Badr Organisation, a Shiite party that was formerly a militia organisation, set up by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Badr Organisation remains linked to a number of militias within Iraq.
Early elections were held last October to meet the demands of anti-government protesters who staged months of mass demonstrations in 2019 and were killed in their hundreds, while thousands were injured.
They called for an overhaul of the political system and for an end to corruption and nepotism.
“The call for early elections was a solution to achieve political and social stability that ran into obstacles that should not be ignored,” Mr Salih said, adding that it was possible to overcome those issues with unity.
“Protecting the country requires a serious pause to address the mistakes that have accumulated due to the crumbling of the ruling system and to create reform,” he said.
For his part, Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi said Iraq’s political crisis is a result of the failure to form a new government.
“We strive to find solutions and citizens are worried about the future from the consequences of the political obstruction that hinders their daily life,” he said.
With no government, Iraq's parliament cannot pass a budget for the year. By law, this means that spending for vital investments such as electricity and water infrastructure is based on a fraction of the previous budget, which was based on much lower oil prices.
“We must admit that there are constitutional differences and inconsistencies in the administration of the state,” Mr Al Kadhimi said, adding that confidence must be restored to overcome the obstacles.
Populist cleric Moqtada Al Sadr was the biggest winner in the vote on October 10, with 73 seats in the 329-member parliament, but his Iran-backed rivals have frustrated his government formation efforts.
Mr Al Sadr joined forces with powerful parties including the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Sovereignty Coalition led by parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Al Halbousi.
For his part, Mr Al Halbousi said the new government will be formed soon.
“We must all strive, side by side, to work to strengthen state institutions, and to affirm our belief in it,” he said.
“We are going through challenges at the local, regional and international levels, and everyone knows the challenges of the international crisis that the world is witnessing and its impact on food security and the economy,” he said.
Iraq is ready to move forward and solve its problems, he said.
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Laughing Apple
Yusuf/Cat Stevens
(Verve Decca Crossover)
Frida%20
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Summer special
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
THE BIO
Favourite author - Paulo Coelho
Favourite holiday destination - Cuba
New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field
Role model - My Grandfather
Dream interviewee - Che Guevara
Scotland v Ireland:
Scotland (15-1): Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Sean Maitland; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt); Josh Strauss, James Ritchie, Ryan Wilson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Simon Berghan, Stuart McInally, Allan Dell
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, D'arcy Rae, Ben Toolis, Rob Harley, Ali Price, Pete Horne, Blair Kinghorn
Coach: Gregor Townsend (SCO)
Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
Company%C2%A0profile
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Take Me Apart
Kelela
(Warp)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Born: near Sialkot, Pakistan, 1981
Profession: Driver
Family: wife, son (11), daughter (8)
Favourite drink: chai karak
Favourite place in Dubai: The neighbourhood of Khawaneej. “When I see the old houses over there, near the date palms, I can be reminded of my old times. If I don’t go down I cannot recall my old times.”
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RESULTS
Welterweight
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) beat Mostafa Radi (PAL)
(Unanimous points decision)
Catchweight 75kg
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) beat Leandro Martins (BRA)
(Second round knockout)
Flyweight (female)
Manon Fiorot (FRA) beat Corinne Laframboise (CAN)
(RSC in third round)
Featherweight
Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB) beat Ahmed Al Darmaki
(Disqualification)
Lightweight
Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) beat Rey Nacionales (PHI)
(Unanimous points)
Featherweight
Yousef Al Housani (UAE) beat Mohamed Fargan (IND)
(TKO first round)
Catchweight 69kg
Jung Han-gook (KOR) beat Max Lima (BRA)
(First round submission by foot-lock)
Catchweight 71kg
Usman Nurmogamedov (RUS) beat Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
(TKO round 1).
Featherweight title (5 rounds)
Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
(TKO round 1).
Lightweight title (5 rounds)
Bruno Machado (BRA) beat Mike Santiago (USA)
(RSC round 2).
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
About RuPay
A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank
RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards
It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.
In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments
The name blends two words rupee and payment
Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs
Ready Player One
Dir: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance
