Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has proposed eliminating the positions of vice president and deputy prime minister as part of a series of reforms to reduce corruption and improve government.
Abadi announced the proposals on Sunday following weeks of protests against mismanagement and a lack of services, including not providing consistent electricity, VOA said.
The plan calls for cutting Iraq’s three vice presidents, which include Abadi’s predecessor Nouri al-Maliki.It would also end party and sectarian quotas for choosing officials and reducing the number of personal bodyguards assigned to officials.
Iraq’s parliament must still approve the moves.The Cabinet gave its backing on Sunday. Al-Maliki and fellow vice-president Osama al-Nujaifi said they also support the reforms.
In addition to the protests, Iraq’s top Shi’ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani called for Abadi to do more to fight corruption.
Maliki’s two-term tenure suffered from what critics said was a government that furthered sectarian tensions and failed to represent the interests of Sunnis, Kurds and other minorities.
Allies urged Iraq to move forward with a unity government that might, among other things, allow for a better response to the Islamic State militants who took over large areas of northern and western Iraq last year.Parliament responded by electing Abadi in September.
Iraq’s military has still struggled to make significant gains against the militants despite a year-old, U.S.-led campaign of more than 3,600 airstrikes in Iraq.During that time, Iraqi civilians and troops have died at a rate of more than 1,100 a month from terrorism and armed conflict, according to United Nations data.
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