The Parliamentary Rights Bloc has called on the Speaker of Parliament and political parties to hold an urgent emergency session to discuss the government’s decision to raise the dollar exchange rate and its impact on Iraqi citizens.
Bloc member MP Miqdad al-Khafaji criticized the move, saying the government surprised the public with what he described as an unfair decision that could significantly reduce the purchasing power of employees and ordinary citizens.
Al-Khafaji said that while political forces are focused on creating new government positions that add further pressure to the state budget, citizens are being burdened by economic decisions that affect their daily lives and living standards.
He urged Parliament and political leaders to take responsibility by convening an emergency session and pressuring the government to reconsider the decision. According to him, protecting citizens’ economic interests should take priority over political disputes and negotiations.
The controversy follows a Cabinet decision made during its regular meeting on Tuesday. The government approved a recommendation submitted by the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq to amend the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the Iraqi dinar.
Under the new policy, the Ministry of Finance will purchase dollars at 1,500 dinars per dollar, while the selling price to banks has been set at 1,510 dinars per dollar.
The decision has already sparked political debate, with critics warning that a higher dollar exchange rate could increase the cost of imported goods and place additional pressure on household budgets at a time when many Iraqis are already facing economic challenges.
