TNT:
Tishwash: Al-Marsoumi: Iraq is at a critical economic crossroads and needs competent individuals and political support.
Economic expert, Nabil Al-Marsoumi, warned that the Iraqi economy is going through a phase that requires extensive reforms in light of the major challenges that will face the president and the next government.
Al-Marsoumi told Al-Furat News Agency that: “The economic reality is characterized by significant pressures, most notably limited liquidity, challenges in the oil sector, budget deficits, high rates of unemployment and poverty, and declining economic performance.”
He added, “The next government will not be able to change the reality on its own unless it has broad political support, and political forces must refrain from demands that may hinder its work and limit populist rhetoric that increases the burdens on the state.”
Al-Marsoumi stressed that “Iraq stands today at an important crossroads in its economic path due to the magnitude of the challenges,” emphasizing “the importance of forming a government of competent individuals, far removed from quotas, capable of managing the current stage and addressing the economic crisis.” link
Tishwash: Baghdad and Erbil meet to unify customs procedures
Iraq’s Border Ports Commission held a meeting Tuesday with federal and regional representatives aimed at unifying customs procedures between federal authorities and the Kurdistan Region, focusing on tariff alignment and the rollout of a shared electronic system.
The meeting, held under commission chief Lt. Gen. Omar al-Waeli and convened on directives from the Ministerial Council for Economy, discussed unifying the customs tariff and implementing the ASYCUDA electronic system across all border crossings. Participants also addressed customs exemptions, prohibition and restriction lists, standardization and quality control, radiographic inspection procedures, the agricultural calendar, unofficial crossings and tax procedures.
Waeli called for discussions “in a positive spirit, making citizens’ needs, meeting their requirements, and facilitating trade movement between the region and the governorates a top priority.” He noted that “the region is going through exceptional circumstances that require everyone to overcome differences in viewpoints and implementation,” and described the commission as “a point of meeting and understanding with the region.”
Efforts to unify customs procedures follow years of differences between federal and regional systems, including variations in tariff application at border crossings that have led to trade disruptions and delays. Previous attempts to enforce unified tariffs and clearance procedures have highlighted the impact of inconsistent regulations on traders and supply chains.
Recent discussions between Baghdad and Erbil have focused on aligning tariffs and ensuring consistent conditions for companies operating across all crossings.
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Tishwash: An advisor to the outgoing prime minister, said that al-Zaidi met with the US chargé d’affaires in Baghdad, Joshua Harris
Abdul Amir Taiban denies the existence of an American veto on Ali al-Zidi, who is tasked with forming the next government, and confirms that all leaders of the framework support this assignment.
Al-Zaydi at the US embassy hours after the framework was nominated and approved – Taiban
A day after Ali al-Zaidi was tasked with forming Iraq’s ninth government, Abdul Amir Taiban, an advisor to the outgoing prime minister, said that al-Zaidi met with the US chargé d’affaires in Baghdad, Joshua Harris, considering this meeting a “green card” and an American approval and blessing of his appointment, contrary to the voices that say there is an American “veto” on his appointment.
In an interview with journalist Laith Al-Jazaeri, which was followed by 964 , Taiban reveals a “unique situation” that the framework was notNetwork accustomed to, after it unanimously agreed to nominate Al-Zidi, a situation that the framework had lacked throughout the past five months.
He explained that the absence of Humaam Hamoudi and Amar Al-Hakim from the picture during Al-Zidi’s assignment does not mean that they do not support his assignment, revealing absolute support for Al-Zidi’s assignment.
On Monday evening (April 27, 2026), the Coordination Framework announced the nomination of Ali al-Zidi for the premiership, praising the “historic stances” of the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri Kamel al-Maliki, and the head of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, by relinquishing their candidacy for the premiership and formation of the next government, in the absence of the head of the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades, Abu Ala al-Walai, and the head of the Supreme Islamic Council, Humam Hamoudi.
President Nizar Amidri tasked Ali al-Zidi, the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc, with forming the new government, explaining that“with this, we have completed the third stage of the constitutional entitlement, which could not tolerate delay,” wishing him “success in forming a strong national government that represents all Iraqis and meets their aspirations.”
The President called on all political forces to “support al-Zaydi and cooperate with him to expedite the completion of this constitutional and national entitlement in a way that serves the interests of Iraq and its people.” The official news agency quoted Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zidi’s first remarks, in which he said, “We are determined to work with all political forces to form a government that responds to the demands of citizens in establishing security and stability and achieving comprehensive development.”
Al-Zidi’s nomination comes after a difficult process that included two violations of the constitutional deadlines.
The first lasted 71 days, until the election of the President of the Republic on April 11, 2026, while the other violation appears to be about to end within hours, after the country lived through 48 hours of a constitutional violation of the deadline for assigning the candidate of the largest bloc to head the government. conducted a preliminary investigation into the history, life, andNetwork 964 Thebusiness of Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi before his appointment. provides more information about the young businessman who following report appears to be more active than is typical among his peers.
His name appears on long lists of those who own or contribute to companies that carry out large projects. He also has extensive political connections, despite not practicing politics. link
Tishwash: Badr: Washington will return $500 million to Iraq as a message of support for al-Zaidi
Hamed al-Moussawi, spokesman for the Badr parliamentary bloc, said on Wednesday that Washington would resend the $500 million shipment it had previously withheld from Baghdad as a “goodwill gesture” to the new project in Iraq led by Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zidi .
Al-Moussawi said in a televised interview followed by Al-Sa’a Network that “the coordination framework held a first session through a group of advisors to develop visions regarding the form of the next government and to divide the points between the parties .”
He added that “there is a vision within the coordination framework that believes that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be within the framework, because the ministry during the past period went through circumstances that did not reflect the vision of Iraq as a whole, and there is talk about creating a position of (Minister of State for Foreign Affairs) that would be part of the coordination framework, and through which it would try to open a window with the world, provided that this person would also be the Minister of the Economic Ministerial Council .”
He continued, “Some of those who are affiliated with us in the factions’ channels are saying: What is Al-Zaidi’s political and security experience? And how will he manage foreign affairs? And I say to them: Looking at our other partners, there is now a person who leads an entire component (Al-Halbousi), and he was a simple person and later became the leader of a bloc, so why do we revolt when we reach the Shiite? ”
He noted that he had heard that the Americans would release the $500 million they had previously withheld from Iraq, as a goodwill gesture to the new project led by al-Zaidi .
He explained that “Badr has 20 deputies, and this guarantees us two ministries according to the prevailing equation in the political process. According to the language of numbers and electoral entitlement, 20 seats correspond to two ministries and 20 special grades . link
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Tishwash: Independent politician: Government formation will proceed too quickly and in less time than planned.
An independent politician suggested that the process of forming the new government will proceed at a record speed and in less than the constitutional period, in light of political consensus and support within the coordination framework.
Abu Mithaq Al-Masari said during his appearance on the program “On the Ruler” broadcast by Al-Furat satellite channel, that “the visit of the Prime Minister-designate to both Hadi Al-Amiri and Nouri Al-Maliki dispelled doubts about the seriousness of his assignment, especially with the country entering the critical stage of constitutional deadlines.”
He added that “the formation of the government will proceed very quickly and in less time than specified, and that al-Zidi’s nomination is serious and heading towards completing the formation,” indicating that “Washington is interested in having a strong political actor in Baghdad, and al-Zidi has the consensus of the framework forces, which is what the United States wants, without any objection to it.”
He pointed out that “Al-Zaydi faces a difficult task and must prioritize the issue of managing Iraq’s funds with the US Federal Reserve,” noting that “the government only needs half plus one, and all the members of the framework support it, which means there is no difficulty in passing it within the parliament.”
Al-Masari continued, “There are expected concessions to the Kurdistan Democratic Party regarding the sovereign ministries, with talk of rotating the portfolios of Foreign Affairs and Finance, in addition to a move to rotate the Ministry of Education with Higher Education,” expecting that “Abbas al-Amiri will assume the presidency of al-Zaydi’s office.” link
