Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi has denied he is canceling decisions that were made legally and in the service of the people after former premier Haider al-Abadi accused his successor of making a political decision that will harm the Iraqi people.
On December 11, Abdul-Mahdi and his cabinet decided to cancel decisions made by Abadi’s government from July 1 to October 24.
Abadi expressed his “great dismay” at the move.
This is “a measure incompatible with the concepts of an institutional state that the country needs to walk by,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
He warned it would set a “dangerous precedent” of government shutdowns after every election.
“This constitutes a barrier to the interests of the people,” said Abadi.
He added that Abdul-Mahdi’s government will suffer as a consequence, noting that his cabinet is still incomplete – eight ministerial posts are still unfilled – and claimed that the process by which some ministers have been selected may have violated the constitution.
Abadi noted that decisions made during the timeframe in question include releasing funds to Basra in response to public protests, and infrastructure projects.
“We point out the importance of insulating the interests of the people from political affairs,” he said, accusing Abdul-Mahdi of making a political decision based on “narrow interests.”
He called on the prime minister to revoke the decision or face a public backlash.
The cabinet also ordered the establishment of customs points between the Kurdistan Region and Kirkuk and Nineveh provinces – a move that is unconstitutional and was subsequently rescinded by the parliament.
Abdul-Mahdi hit back in a counter-statement on Wednesday, accusing Abadi of trying to stir up the people with “falsehoods.”
Legal decisions such as funds for Basra and infrastructure projects were not revoked, he said, going on to explain the reasoning behind the move.
“First, to confirm and institute formal decisions, in a way that is in the service of the citizens and public, and it assures the continuity of success governments. And second, to revoke illegal and informal decisions, all after revision and inspection,” he stated.
The term of the former parliament expired at the end of June, but Abadi and his team remained in place in a caretaker mode until the new government was sworn in, a process that was delayed for months while the election commission did a vote recount after allegations of fraud.
Abdul-Mahdi and 14 cabinet members were sworn in on October 24. But party rivalries have left the remaining eight posts unfilled. He has admitted he doesn’t have the power to resolve the disputes.
As an independent, Abdul-Mahdi has no parliamentary bloc of his own. He was a candidate of compromise, but many argue his government could be weak as a result.
