The finance committee daily scours documents and files related to corruption charges, such as selling government positions Rebwar Karim told Rudaw’s Maad Fayad.
“The government is unable to fight corruption as the deep state rules the country and controls all aspects of the state. We have many files on corruption cases in state institutions, including NGOs," Karim said.
Since 2003, political factions in post-Saddam Hussein Iraq have fostered networks of power, competing to influence ministries and government departments while pocketing the nation’s oil wealth. Iraq is now ranked one of the most corrupt countries in the world, according to Transparency International. It sits 21 spots from the bottom.
In October, the government announced a series of economic reforms, titled The White Paper, that addressed oil, electricity, and agriculture sectors, schools, limiting waste, and corruption. But it has yet to be implemented.
"The White Paper has the most important foundations to reduce the severity of corruption, but it cannot be applied in six months or a year under corrupt circumstances," Karim said.
“Taking action against any of the big corrupted names would be an election blow and would be easily refuted," he said. The level of corruption in the current government is no less than previous administrations, he added.
Iraq will hold parliamentary elections in October.
The problem also extends beyond Iraq’s borders. "We have officials, who have been living in Europe for ten years and still receive salaries from the state. All of them hold senior positions and ranks, and their salaries are constantly increasing," Karim said.
The parliament has a very weak oversight role because it is part of the corrupt system, according to Karim.
In August, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi formed an anti-corruption committee, an attempt to address the corruption problem that was an issue during widespread protests in October 2019. The anti-corruption body said it issued 58 warrants and summons last month.
The head of the committee, Thabet Saeed, confirmed to Rudaw English on April 19 that prominent businessman and politician Jamal al-Karbouli was arrested on suspicion of corruption within the industry and electricity ministries.
An arrest warrant has also been issued for Babil's former governor, who was accused of falsifying land documents.
Earlier in April, Iraq's parliamentary integrity committee said that it has prepared "big corruption cases" against a number of former and current ministers.
The Integrity Commission recovered $1 billion last year, according to a report released in February.
