Iraq’s top court rules against decision to scrap vice president posts

Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court released a ruling on Monday overturning the prime minister’s decision to abolish the posts of vice president in the country. Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi declared on 9 August that the vice presidential posts were being abolished as part of his political reform. The intention was to control government expenditure in the wake of protests around Iraq against corruption in state institutions and the deterioration in public services, especially the electricity industry.

“The Federal Supreme Court held its day plenary and considered a lawsuit to challenge the decision of the prime minister to cancel the posts of vice president of the republic,” explained a spokesman for the judiciary, Abdelsattar Bayraqdar. “The existence of one or more vice presidents is required by the constitution.”

Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr called for demonstrations in protest at the court ruling. He also condemned the government’s delay in appointing ministers, blaming “corruption”.