Masrour Barzani: Political party meddling has been one of the challenges in combating corruption
Peregraf
Without disclosing the identities of the political parties, Masrour Barzani says that some of the issues with combating corruption and implementing the reform program are due to their involvement and influence. He claimed, "Some parties not only did not cooperate, but they systematically opposed the government's efforts."
Today, September 4, 2024, the first report of "the Strategy to Fight Corruption in the Public Sector" was delivered in an event held in Erbil. The Kurdistan Region Commission of Integrity prepared the report.
KRG’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani delivered a speech at the ceremony. "Fighting corruption and limiting the waste of public funds is an key components of the agenda of the ninth cabinet. We have taken necessary measures to promote transparency and fight corruption," Barzani claimed.
The anti-corruption policy was approved by the Kurdistan Regional Council of Ministers in September 2021. "This report has been prepared in full cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Government," stated Barzani.
"It is pleasing that most of the demands and recommendations mentioned in this report to fight corruption, the ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government since the beginning of its work, has worked on and planned and agenda for their implementation," KRG PM claimed.
KRG PM stated that the digitalization of government affairs, reform of the banking system and amendments and submission of several bills were among the tasks that the ninth cabinet has worked on within the framework of the "strategy to fight corruption".
"We have a strong will to fight corruption," Barzani declared, stressing that "this is not only the duty of the government and the courts, but also requires the coordination, cooperation and support of all citizens and all sections of society".
Although senior officials in the Kurdistan Region have admitted the existence of rampant corruption on several occasions, but in practice no measures have been taken to address the scale of the corruption.
The ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government led by Masrour Barzani has been operating under the banner of a strong, reforming administration that seeks to combat corruption, however the results of the cabinet's effots to fight corruption. Corruption cases are still unknown to the Kurdistan region’s people in the Masrour Barzani’s cabinet. Similar to past cabinets, the outcomes of initiatives to combat corruption and implement reforms have not been made public. Negligent or corrupt officials are also unknown. Kurdistan people have never witnessed a trial involving such individuals, and they have a common saying that goes, "The law net does not catch big fish," indicating that senior officials cannot be prosecuted when they violate the law and are accused of corruption.