Latest news with #al-Maliki
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
'Unprecedented' fiscal gap: Iraq's debt exceeds $130B
Shafaq News/ Iraq's public debt has surpassed $130B, as the government faces a widening fiscal deficit and delays in finalizing the 2025 federal budget, a lawmaker cautioned on Thursday. MP Raed al-Maliki stated that the Ministry of Finance has yet to prepare budget schedules due to the Central Bank's refusal to authorize further borrowing. 'Revenues can't even cover salaries, and the fiscal gap is unprecedented,' al-Maliki noted after a meeting with Finance Minister Taif Sami. He criticized the government's recent endorsement of the second phase of the 'Beautiful Baghdad' beautification project—estimated at $122M—arguing the funds should instead address contractor arre ars and suspended infrastructure works. 'The government is spending billions on cosmetic ventures while essential infrastructure remains stalled and funded through borrowing,' he remarked. 'This mirrors the 2016 liquidity crisis, and history risks repeating itself.' The lawmaker further accused the administration of confiscating employee benefit allocations, delaying promotions and raises, and liquidating public assets—such as residential properties in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone—to cover operating expenses.'Parliament's silence is enabling poor governance and deepening the burden on Iraq's economy,' al-Maliki concluded. 'The financial crisis is real.'
Shafaq News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
No division: Al-Maliki appeals for Arab solidarity ahead of Baghdad Summit
Shafaq News/ As Baghdad prepares to host the 34th Arab League Summit, Nouri al-Maliki, leader of Iraq's State of Law Coalition, called on Arab nations, on Wednesday, to set aside divisions and pursue collective solutions to regional challenges. In a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, al-Maliki said Iraq's repeated selection as summit host reflects 'its active engagement in regional affairs and its reliability as a partner in addressing shared concerns,' emphasizing that holding the summit in Baghdad on May 17 is not just symbolic but underscores Iraq's readiness to assume a leadership role in promoting Arab cooperation. 'These challenges require an effective forum where Arab leaders can gather in their second home—Iraq—to jointly respond to ongoing developments.' He also urged participating nations to prioritize collective interests over political rifts. 'We hope our Arab brothers will show solidarity and address the region's demands without being drawn into division.' To translate summit discussions into concrete results, al-Maliki proposed forming ministerial-level committees focused on foreign affairs, reconstruction, and economic development. 'We want this summit to be effective and successful,' he stressed. 'And to lay the foundation for greater coordination and integration in the face of threats that affect us all.'
Iraqi News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Al-Maliki: Holding the Arab Summit in Baghdad is Evidence of Iraq's Commitment to its Role
Baghdad-INA The head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, confirmed on Wednesday that holding the Arab Summit in Baghdad is evidence of Iraq's commitment to its role and obligations. He expressed his hope for Arab countries' solidarity in confronting challenges, avoiding problems and disputes. In a speech on the occasion of the Arab Summit in Baghdad, which was followed by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), al-Maliki said, "Holding the Arab Summit in Baghdad once again proves that Iraq is a true and genuine partner with Arab leaders in confronting challenges." He added, "Holding the Arab Summit in Baghdad is evidence of Iraq's commitment to its role and obligations." He added, "The Arab world is experiencing internal and external challenges, as it is an essential and vital part of the region and the world." He noted that "the challenges facing the region require such a summit, in which Arab leaders meet in their second homeland, Iraq, to confront developments and challenges." He continued, "Iraq's hosting of the Arab Summit more than once proves that Iraq wants to contribute to addressing and interacting with the nation's affairs," expressing his hope that "the Arab countries participating in the summit will show solidarity in order to confront challenges, avoiding problems and disagreements." "We hope that our Arab leaders will pay attention to the demands that will be presented at the Arab Summit. Meetings of the ministers of foreign affairs, reconstruction, and economy must be held so that the summit can bear its significant fruits, which shape the wills of the countries." Al-Maliki said. He concluded, "We hope that the summit will be successful and effective, establishing a stage of communication and integration to confront the challenges facing all."
Shafaq News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi MP: Parliament echoes Saddam-era assembly
Shafaq News/ On Friday, Independent Iraqi lawmaker Raed al-Maliki launched a sharp critique of the current parliamentary session, comparing it to the defunct National Assembly under Saddam Hussein's regime before 2003. In a statement, al-Maliki accused the current parliament of disrupting sessions and failing to pass more than 40 draft laws that were ready for voting, adding that dozens of other proposed legislations had only gone through first readings, with seven scheduled ministerial interrogations yet to be conducted. 'Speaker [Mahmoud al-Mashhadani] told me that the lack of consensus among Coordination Framework factions on certain laws has stalled the holding of sessions,' al-Maliki said, claiming that under the State Administration Coalition's ruling, the Council of Representatives 'had come to resemble the National Assembly of the former Revolutionary Command Council era.' Al-Maliki also denounced the government's influence over the legislature, alleging that it had found allies within the chamber who were 'keen to ride along with [Prime Minister] al-Sudani's bandwagon — one that seems to have room for many.' On Monday, the Council of Representatives failed to convene due to a lack of quorum — a recurring issue in recent months. Parliament officially entered its legislative recess on Friday, marking the end of the first term in its fourth legislative year. The recess is expected to extend until the national elections, scheduled for November 11. As Iraq nears the end of its fifth parliamentary term, the Council has held only 51% of its scheduled sessions based on its internal rules. Lawmakers and observers say this has weakened both the legislative and oversight functions of the body.
Euronews
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
No, the ICJ hasn't declared Israel an 'illegal state'
ADVERTISEMENT Long-circulating false claims that the UN's highest court has declared Israel an illegal state have resurfaced online. Various social media posts circulating in recent weeks show a video of former Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki delivering a speech, in which he says that "Israel's occupation of Palestine has been declared unlawful". He adds that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) court declared that the occupation violates the UN Charter of Human Rights, ordered Israel to cease its occupation as quickly as possible, and decreed that Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory are illegal and should be dismantled. The posts sharing the video present its contents as breaking news, and state that Israel has been declared an illegal state and should not be recognised as a sovereign nation. Posts like this have been circulating for months Euronews These claims are not only false; they're also old. The court has not handed down any such decision in recent weeks, and nor have credible reports of any such decision emerged. A search on X shows that the false claim has been repeatedly shared over the past year, with the video showing al-Maliki first published on 19 July 2024. He delivered his speech in response to a real, non-binding ICJ decision , in which the court did indeed label Israel's presence in the Palestinian occupied territories as "unlawful" and called for an immediate end to the construction of settlements while condemning Israel's control over the lands it seized nearly six decades ago. However, at no point did the ICJ declare Israel an illegal nation. Nor did it order other countries to stop recognising it as a sovereign state. Responding to the ruling at the time, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a distortion of historical truth and that the West Bank and East Jerusalem are part of the Jewish people's historical homeland. Related Israeli airstrike hits tents sheltering displaced Gazans Israeli strike kills at least 23 as mediators seek lasting Gaza truce Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 14 and destroy bulldozers need to clear rubble Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip in the 1967 Six-Day War. The Palestinians aim to establish an independent state in these areas. Israel views the West Bank as disputed territory, whose future should be determined through negotiations, and has established settlements there to strengthen its hold on the area. According to Peace Now, an anti-settlement monitoring group, Israel has built more than 100 settlements in the West Bank, with the settler population growing by more than 15% in recent years to number some 500,000 Israelis. Some 200,000 Israelis live in East Jerusalem, which Israel considers part of its capital. Palestinians in the city face systematic discrimination, hindering their ability to build or expand their homes and neighbourhoods. The international community generally considers all three areas to be occupied territory.
