BAGHDAD — A year after
Iraq’s last general election, the UN
mission urged political factions to end the deadlock paralyzing the oil-rich
country, warning that “Iraq is running out of time.”
اضافة اعلان
“The protracted crisis is breeding further
instability; ... it threatens people’s livelihoods,” the UN Assistance Mission
in Iraq said, urging “dialogue without preconditions” toward a stable
government in the war-scarred nation.
Iraqis last voted on October 10, 2021 in an election
triggered by an earlier wave of mass protests against endemic corruption,
rampant unemployment, and decaying infrastructure.
One year on, the country has yet to form a new
government, leaving caretaker Prime Minister
Mustafa Al-Kadhimi in charge but
unable to have parliament pass a new state budget.
The UN said that the vote a year ago “was a
hard-earned election, brought about by public pressure from nationwide protests
in which several hundreds of young Iraqis lost their lives and thousands were
injured”.
“Regretfully, this reaffirmation of democracy was
followed by divisive politics, generating bitter public disillusion,” it added
in a statement.
Rival Shiite Muslim factions in parliament have been
vying for influence and the right to select a new prime minister and
government.
The standoff that has seen both sides set up protest
camps and at times sparked deadly street clashes.
“All actors must engage in dialogue without
preconditions,” the UN mission said.
“Through compromise, they must collectively agree on
key outcomes ... to service the needs of the Iraqi people and establish a fully
empowered and effective government. The time to act is now.”
‘Willingness to compromise’
The political impasse pits
the powerful cleric
Moqtada Al-Sadr, who has demanded snap elections, against
the Iran-backed Coordination Framework, which has been pushing to appoint a new
head of government before any new polls are held.
Tensions last boiled over on August 29 when more
than 30 Sadr supporters were killed in clashes with Iran-backed factions and
the army in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, the capital’s government and
diplomatic district.
The Coordination Framework welcomed the UN
statement, saying it was ready “for dialogue with all political actors” to
“form a government with full powers”.
Iraq has raked in huge revenues from energy exports
this year, and the central bank is holding a colossal $87 billion in foreign
exchange reserves.
However, the money remains locked up because Kadhimi
is not authorized to submit an annual state budget to parliament in his
capacity as caretaker.
The UN mission said it is “imperative” that a budget
is adopted before the end of the year.
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