Tishwash: Parliament is moving to avoid a “paralysis” scenario and aims to finalize the oil, gas, and telecommunications laws.
MP Hussein Ali announced on Monday a serious parliamentary determination to avoid a repeat of the scenario that disrupted parliamentary sessions in the previous session. He emphasized that the House of Representatives has successfully completed the reading and passage of 16 laws so far, focusing on strategic legislation related to oil and communications.
Ali told Al-Maalouma, “The House of Representatives is working intensively to activate its legislative role and avoid the obstacles and political gridlock that led to the disruption of sessions in the past.” He explained that “Parliament is moving steadily to compensate for previous delays.”
He added that “the House has so far managed to complete the reading and proceed with the legal procedures for 16 diverse laws affecting various sectors,” noting that “parliamentary focus is currently on resolving contentious laws that have been stalled for years.”
Ali continued, “There is a concerted parliamentary effort to pass the postponed oil and gas law, the communications and information technology law, as well as a package of other laws that are of paramount importance in regulating the country’s economic resources and infrastructure.” link
Tishwash: Calls to expedite the submission of the budget to the House of Representatives and warnings against delaying its approval
Member of Parliament Ahlam al-Kaka’i warned of the repercussions of the continued delay in approving the general budget, explaining that its absence has halted numerous projects and directly impacted public services and development plans. In a statement to the official newspaper, al-Kaka’i added that “Parliament extended its recess due to the government formation process before subsequently entering its legislative recess, which could lead to further delays in approving the budget if there is no political will to expedite its resolution.”
She emphasized that “the continued delay in the budget will affect the launch of new projects and the completion of stalled projects, in addition to disrupting the financial obligations of government institutions,” stressing the need to expedite the submission of the draft budget to Parliament for discussion and approval. link
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Tishwash: The Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq chairs a meeting with electronic payment companies.
The Central Bank of Iraq held an expanded meeting at its headquarters in Baghdad, chaired by the Governor, Mr. Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq, and attended by directors of relevant departments within the bank, as well as the authorized managers of licensed electronic payment service providers in Iraq.
The meeting focused on discussing the most prominent challenges and observations related to the operations of these companies, and reviewing mechanisms for developing the services they provide to enhance the efficiency of the financial and banking sector and support the comprehensive digital transformation in the country.
The meeting included a comprehensive review of technical, administrative, and regulatory observations pertaining to the work of electronic payment companies.
Participants exchanged views on the companies’ future plans aimed at improving financial services, with a focus on strengthening compliance and full adherence to the regulations and instructions adopted by the Central Bank. They also discussed upgrading the infrastructure and developing the technical and regulatory systems of payment companies in line with best practices and international standards.
The discussions expanded to include the development of innovative solutions and initiatives aimed at improving the electronic payment environment in Iraq. Participants focused on enhancing the security, efficiency, and reliability of digital financial services to meet citizens’ aspirations and support the government’s efforts to promote financial inclusion and a smooth transition to a digital economy.
This meeting is part of the Central Bank of Iraq’s ongoing efforts to regulate and develop the financial technology sector and ensure the provision of secure and innovative digital services that support financial stability in the country.
Baghdad – (Media Office)
May 17, 2026 link
Tishwash: Al-Zaidi chairs the first meeting of the Financial Stability Board
Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi chaired the first meeting of the Financial Stability Council on Saturday and issued a series of directives.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Media Office indicated that “al-Zaidi chaired the first meeting of the Financial Stability Council, which was established under the ministerial program, and which included the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq.”
Al-Zaidi emphasized “the importance of achieving financial stability, given its developmental and economic impacts,” noting “the necessity of close coordination between the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance, and the need to make financial decisions that support stability, which will positively impact government development, service, and economic plans.” link
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Tishwash: Financial stability is the cornerstone of the government’s launch.
In a rapid and remarkable pace, the new government, led by Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, began outlining its executive actions from the first hours of officially assuming his duties. Only a few hours passed before the first cabinet meeting was held, and a set of directives was issued that reflected the orientations of his government program, before one of its most prominent axes was quickly translated through the establishment of the “Financial Stability Council” as a foundational step in the path of economic reform.
On Saturday, Al-Zaidi chaired the first meeting of the “Financial Stability Council,” in the presence of the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, as part of an initiative aimed at strengthening coordination between fiscal and monetary policies.
During the meeting, Al-Zaydi stressed the importance of achieving financial stability, emphasizing the need to raise the level of coordination between the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance, and to make consistent decisions that support general stability, which will positively impact the government’s development, service and economic plans.
In the same context, the new government, on its first official working day after gaining the confidence of Parliament, began to outline its executive and political program, with a clear focus on economic reform, combating corruption, improving services, and activating digital transformation.
The Prime Minister stressed, according to a statement from his media office, that the Ministry of Oil should not be limited to selling crude oil, but should transform into an economic institution with added value through developing the oil industry and increasing production and exports.
In the energy sector, Al-Zaydi directed the Ministry of Electricity to prepare two plans, one urgent to address the current summer crisis, and another long-term plan to develop the electrical grid and infrastructure.
He also instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare working papers to reactivate Iraqi relations with the Arab and international communities, in order to strengthen Iraq’s political and diplomatic presence.
In the health sector, he stressed the need to activate the health insurance law, while calling on the Ministry of Transport to proceed with the “Development Road” project to support the national economy and link Iraq to global trade chains.
The directives included obligating ministers to disclose their financial assets within a week, and not to make structural changes within ministries at the present time.
Al-Zaydi also stressed the importance of enabling the House of Representatives to perform its oversight and legislative role, and of strengthening cooperation with parliamentary committees.
In the fight against corruption, the Prime Minister called for giving this file the highest priority, with full cooperation with the Federal Integrity Commission, and working to recover smuggled funds, stressing the need to keep official institutions away from political and factional rivalries. link
