Baghdad – INA
The government spokesperson Haider Al-Aboudi confirmed on Sunday that the Prime Minister has decided not to run in the upcoming elections, noting that the cabinet will be fully formed in the first half of July.
He explained that “the security changes are neither a punishment nor indicative of negligence, but rather the government is adopting a new vision to empower institutions.”
Al-Aboudi added that Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi views the corruption file as the most serious scourge threatening the country and the political system, noting that all contracts from the previous period will be audited and reviewed, in addition to halting a number of stalled projects, some of which had received more than 50 percent financing, involving companies that do not possess incorporation documents.
Speaking at a press conference attended by an Iraqi News Agency (INA) correspondent, Al-Aboudi stated, “The completion of the cabinet will take place in the first half of July, ahead of the official visit to Washington.”
He added that Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s mid-July visit to Washington involves several critical files—most notably the economy and restricting weapons to state control, which reflects the government’s vision for establishing stability in Iraq.
He explained that recent security rotation of security positions “are neither a punishment nor a sign of negligence, but rather part of a new government vision to empower state institutions."
Al-Aboudi further noted that Prime Minister Al-Zaidi views corruption as the most dangerous scourge threatening both the country and its political system. Consequently, all contracts from the previous administration will be audited and reviewed. Additionally, several stalled projects have been halted—including some that had received over 50 percent of their funding—after they were found to involve companies lacking official incorporation documents. He stressed that the anti-corruption campaign will not stop and will target all suspects, regardless of their positions.
He affirmed that “the Iraqi state does not resort to external borrowing; Iraq is not a poor country, and the government has many solutions, with economic indicators pointing toward recovery.”
Furthermore, he noted that "the 2027 budget will be finalized in accordance with standard procedures by October, ready for submission to Parliament."
He added that the state provides full guarantees to oil companies operating in Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan Region, as their operations are directly linked to the salaries of the region's public employees.
Al-Aboudi concluded by reiterating that “Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has decided not to run in the upcoming elections and has no intention of establishing a political party,” adding that the energy sector remains a top government priority, with the Prime Minister ensuring all necessary requirements are met.
