Shafaq New- Baghdad
The Reconstruction and DevelopmentCoalition (Al-Ima'ar wal-Tanmiya), led by former Prime Minister Mohammed ShiaAl-Sudani, said on Wednesday that political blocs had thwarted a Cabinetreshuffle proposed during his tenure.
Coalition spokesperson FirasAl-Musallamawi told Shafaq News that the proposed reshuffle would have affectedsix ministers. Although Al-Sudani's government referred five ministers to thejudiciary, "the political conditions at the time did not providesufficient cover" to complete the reform process, he noted, arguing thatPrime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi's government now enjoys a broader political mandateto advance reforms.
The coalition, he added, supportsusing that momentum to combat corruption across all state institutions"without exception or selectivity," beginning with current and formerministers, directors general, and ministerial office directors, while leavingthe final decisions to Iraq's judiciary.
Al-Musallamawi further pointed towhat he described as a reform campaign carried out under Al-Sudani'sadministration that targeted director-general positions across governmentinstitutions.
Iraqi authorities launched anationwide anti-corruption campaign, dubbed "Dawn Crackdown," on June28 under Al-Zaidi's direction. A security source told Shafaq News that thenumber of arrests exceeded 67 during the first 24 hours, while informed sourcessaid the initial phase is expected to target more than 200 current and formerofficials, politicians, business owners, and other suspects.
The Reconstruction and DevelopmentCoalition has voiced support for the campaign while warning against "misinformation"spread by individuals implicated in corruption cases.
Readmore: Iraq detains top officials in anti-corruption sweep: What we know so far
