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Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Provincial Councils: Dysfunctional return deepens public disillusionment
Shafaq News Eighteen months after Iraq reinstated provincial councils through elections held in December 2023, what was intended as a milestone for local democratic renewal has instead descended into institutional paralysis. Across the country, these councils—originally designed to decentralize authority and improve service oversight—are now widely seen as symbols of political infighting, legal uncertainty, and eroded public trust. The councils' revival followed a decade-long suspension, but their comeback has been marred by opaque power arrangements and factional dominance. The result: a system that privileges political quotas over citizen representation, and where council decisions often reflect elite rivalry rather than local needs. From Oversight to Gridlock In the immediate aftermath of the 2023 elections, nearly every provincial council struggled to form a working majority or elect key leadership. In many cases, the absence of binding performance standards allowed dominant blocs to assert control through informal negotiations. Rather than functioning as local watchdogs or policy facilitators, councils became arenas of partisan competition. 'Provincial councils have turned into an empty loop that feeds corruption,' said independent MP Hussein al-Saabri. 'There's little effective governance, and public services are stagnant.' His concern is echoed by Babylon council member Hussein al-Dahmooshi, who attributed the dysfunction to Iraq's entrenched quota system. 'Any decision not backed by powerful blocs simply fails,' he noted, adding that independents are often marginalized. Former MP Mazen al-Faili warned that repeated institutional failures were accelerating the erosion of citizen trust: 'There's poor oversight from both the councils and Parliament. This has allowed corruption to take root.' Baghdad: Legal Battles and Power Struggles In Baghdad, months of internal discord have highlighted the legal ambiguity and partisan friction plaguing Iraq's largest provincial council. Early in 2025, the council voted to dismiss Governor Abdul-Muttalib al-Alawi on grounds of retirement eligibility—a justification the governor rejected. While the Administrative Court initially upheld his removal, the State of Law Coalition challenged the process, accusing the council chairman of overreach. Weeks later, the council moved to dismiss the chairman himself, Ammar al-Qaisi. That decision, too, was reversed by the court, deepening the governance stalemate. In July 2025, the Ishraqat Kanoon bloc expelled its only council representative, Hussein al-Khuzai, over alleged violations of party discipline. Separately, the National Resolution Coalition withdrew from the Baghdad Bloc, citing political deviation. Kirkuk: Fragile Balances Collapse In Kirkuk, ethnic and political tensions have destabilized the post-election landscape. In August 2024, a controversial session held in Baghdad—boycotted by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and several Arab lawmakers—resulted in the appointment of Ribwar Taha as governor and Mohammed Hafiz as council chairman. Though the Administrative Court upheld their appointments in early 2025, the session's legitimacy remained in dispute. A power-sharing pact, intended to balance Kirkuk's Kurdish, Arab, and Turkmen constituencies, collapsed in May when two Arab council members withdrew from the ruling coalition, accusing partners of violating the agreement. Although they retained their seats, their withdrawal effectively ended any pretense of consensus governance. Saladin and Diyala: Court Rulings Ignored In Saladin, the appointment of former governor Ahmed Abdullah al-Jubouri (Abu Mazen) in February 2024 triggered a deadlock between provincial and federal authorities. Despite his amnesty, the Iraqi Presidency refused to issue a formal decree confirming his return due to prior convictions. Local tribal and political factions backed the council's decision, but the impasse remains unresolved. Further tensions arose when the council voted to dismiss its chairman, Adel al-Sumaidaie, replacing him with Ali al- Kareem. The Administrative Judiciary Court later invalidated al-Kareem's appointment, reinstating al- Sumaidaie. However, the conflict revealed a deeper institutional weakness: political blocs often ignore or delay implementing court decisions, undermining judicial authority. Diyala presents a similar picture. Repeated efforts to remove the council president have led to a cycle of court-mandated reinstatements, which the majority of council members have refused to honor. The result is near-total administrative paralysis and a growing perception that the rule of law is selectively applied. Dhi Qar, Najaf, and Al-Diwaniyah: Corruption Allegations and Resignations In Dhi Qar, the dismissal of Governor Murtadha al-Ibrahimi in early 2024 deepened long-standing internal divisions. Rival factions within the council have failed to agree on a successor, leaving key administrative and budgetary decisions in limbo. In Najaf, a senior council member resigned in April 2025 amid accusations of misconduct in awarding public contracts. In Al-Diwaniyah, citizen protests erupted over claims that council members colluded with contractors to inflate project costs. The backlash prompted a judicial investigation and the temporary suspension of several officials. Rooted in Quotas, Not Service Political analyst Nawal al-Mousawi traced the dysfunction back to the quota-based system used to distribute council seats and executive roles. 'Since their inception, these councils have operated under a partisan logic that undermines transparency,' she told Shafaq News. 'The conflicts are more about political positioning ahead of national elections than about public service.' Al-Mousawi also emphasized that the councils' return, after a ten-year suspension, has failed to bring lessons learned. 'Rather than reforming themselves, they've reverted to the same practices that led to their previous abolition. This illustrates how entrenched institutional stagnation has become.' A Crisis of Democratic Legitimacy At its core, the crisis in Iraq's provincial councils is not just administrative but democratic. Conceived as mechanisms for local oversight and citizen representation, the councils have instead become symbols of dysfunction. Voter turnout for the 2023 elections hovered around 41%, but more recent surveys indicate declining interest in the upcoming parliamentary elections—a reflection of deepening public disillusionment with both local and national governance. Outlook: Reform or Repetition? While some voices have called for a second suspension of the councils, others advocate sweeping reforms: revising electoral laws, imposing performance benchmarks, and limiting partisan appointments. Yet such reforms would require political will that has so far been lacking. In the meantime, many political blocs continue to use provincial councils as platforms for influence ahead of federal elections. Without decisive legislative or judicial intervention, Iraq risks repeating the cycle of failed decentralization—a trajectory that threatens not just local governance but the broader credibility of the country's democratic institutions. Comparatively, Iraq's experience mirrors failed decentralization efforts elsewhere in the region—such as Lebanon's paralyzed municipalities or Tunisia's reversed local empowerment experiment—underscoring that without safeguards, local governance can become a new arena for elite dysfunction rather than a remedy for centralization.
Ya Biladi
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Casablanca historic building demolition sparks legal battle by El Manouzi family
On Monday morning, public authorities in Casablanca began demolishing several buildings in the city's historic center, including an apartment building structure belonging to the family of activist Haj Ali El Manouzi. The building, located in the Sidi Belyout district, is considered by the family to be of significant symbolic and historical value. The demolition operation started in the L'Bhira neighborhood, targeting a building adjacent to the El Manouzi residence. In response, the family has strongly opposed the move, arguing that their property is part of the city's heritage and should be preserved. Prior to the demolition, the family had sent an open letter to several key officials, including the Minister of the Interior, the Public Prosecutor at the Casablanca Court of Appeal, the Governor of the Casablanca-Settat region, and members of the city council. In the letter, reviewed by Yabiladi, the family's lawyer expressed formal opposition to the demolition and emphasized that an annulment appeal had been filed with the President of the Administrative Court. Under Moroccan law, such an appeal suspends any evacuation or demolition orders until a final ruling is issued, particularly in cases involving buildings at risk of collapse. The family supported their legal action with a judicial expert report, conducted in the presence of a representative from the municipal council. Notably, other relevant authorities, including from the prefecture, were absent despite having been notified. The expert concluded that the building is structurally sound and does not qualify as a building at risk of collapse. Calls for due process and respect for judicial rulings The family called for respect for legal procedures and the findings of the judicial report, warning that any harm to the building's residents would constitute criminal acts under Moroccan penal law. They argued that even a preliminary attempt to demolish the property, in defiance of court procedures, would be considered a felony. Lawyer Mustapha El Manouzi also sent a formal notice to the President of the Casablanca Urban Municipality, reiterating the judicial expert's conclusions and demanding that the demolition be suspended until the Rabat Court of Appeal rules on the pending appeal. In a statement to Yabiladi, family member Abdelkarim El Manouzi said residents of the building and surrounding area were verbally informed only two days earlier to vacate by Sunday, ahead of the demolition set for Monday morning. According to him, no official or written notice was served to the property owners. He added that the family was caught off guard at around 7 a.m. by the arrival of bulldozers, accompanied by security forces. Authorities began demolishing adjacent structures and removed the door to the El Manouzi building, without showing any official documentation. When asked for the demolition order, the governor reportedly told the family to obtain it from the district office, but did not provide it directly. Abdelkarim El Manouzi described the demolition as «arbitrary and illegal», calling for a «just and fair resolution». He stressed that while the family does not oppose public interest projects, they reject any action taken outside the legal framework. He reminded officials that the judiciary has not yet ruled on the case, and carrying out demolition under these conditions «has no legal basis». He confirmed that the family intends to file a new complaint against the decision.
Bangkok Post
13-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Race to enroll illegal hotels in system
Phuket's latest "field hospital" measure is expected to attract 20-50 illegal hotels to register in the system before a ministerial regulation expires next month, according to the Phuket Boutique Accommodation Consortium. The consortium plans to submit a petition to the Administrative Court to temporarily protect operators who are unable to apply for hotel licences within the time frame, allowing them to continue operations. Chinnawat Udomniyom, president of the consortium, said unlicensed hotels have a short period of time left to apply for licences. The Interior Ministry's regulation, which temporarily allows other types of buildings that do not meet the definition of hotel under the Hotel Act, but opened before Aug 19, 2016, to register for hotel licences until Aug 18. Under these regulations, buildings must have strong foundations and fire safety measures in place. Last December, an environmental ministerial regulation specific to Phuket was also issued. Under this rule, buildings opened before Aug 19, 2016 are exempt from certain requirements, such as surrounding vacant space and setbacks. The new rule only requires an Initial Environmental Examination report for buildings with at least 2,500 square metres of usable area or 50 rooms. Mr Chinnawat said over the past two years, many operators have modified their buildings to comply with the regulations, but the application process was delayed based on the discretion of local officers in interpreting the law. He said many officers are unsure about the exemptions applicable to small hotels, and their inspection processes take longer than they should. To address this issue, Phuket province launched its urgent field hospital scheme, in collaboration with private operators and other related organisations, to accelerate the hotel licence application process. Mr Chinnawat said the consortium will help select 20-50 operators with the highest potential to apply for hotel licences as a pilot group under this programme. The working committee for the scheme will be chaired by the deputy governor of Phuket, he said. Advisory teams will instruct operators on how to apply for licences, including representatives from the Provincial Public Works and Town and Country Planning Office, along with the National Anti-Corruption Commission Region 8 office, noted Mr Chinnawat. "The committee is prioritising tourist safety measures," he said. Mr Chinnawat said all members want to be regulated. The consortium has over 250 small hotel members, but only a few have hotel licences. The government should consider extending the application deadline for several more years, or draft a new bill specifically for small hotels, he said. There are many small hotel operators in other provinces unable to register due to obstacles in their city's environmental or planning laws, unlike Phuket, which eased its environmental regulations, said Mr Chinnawat. "Small hotels are important in driving tourism and spreading wealth in local communities," he said.
Bloomberg
12-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
UniCredit Wins Partial Support in Legal Battle Over BPM Deal
By and Chiara Albanese Save An Italian court accepted some of UniCredit SpA 's requests to annul conditions imposed on its bid for Banco BPM SpA, handing a partial victory to Chief Executive Officer Andrea Orcel in his plan to create the country's largest lender. The Administrative Court of Lazio lifted two conditions imposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government on the deal, according to a ruling published on Saturday on the court's website.
Arab Times
29-06-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait Court: Husband's Absence No Obstacle to Wife's Property Rights
KUWAIT CITY, June 29: The Administrative Court has ruled in favor of a Kuwaiti woman, granting her the right to initiate procedures for issuing a title deed in equal shares with her husband, without requiring his presence or signature. The ruling follows the husband's arbitrary refusal to complete the registration process, despite all legal and procedural requirements being fulfilled. The title deed must be issued with a mortgage in favor of the Kuwait Credit Bank. The case was filed by the woman's legal representative, lawyer Hawra Al-Habib, who explained that her client is the wife of the first defendant and mother of their four children. Together, they had applied to the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (the second defendant) for a residential plot, which was duly allocated to them. All formalities had been completed, including municipal clearances, notary records, and the connection of electricity services. However, the husband refused to proceed with the title deed issuance without providing a valid reason, effectively obstructing his wife's legal right. The court concluded that the husband's actions constituted an abuse of rights, unjustly depriving the plaintiff of her entitlement to co-ownership of the government-allocated property. Based on these findings, the court ruled that the woman is legally entitled to proceed with the issuance of the title deed independently, under applicable legal procedures.
