Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi proposed the initiative on Sunday as part of a push to improve state finances and reduce corruption.
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Iraq’s prime minister announced on Sunday a series of drastic anti-corruption measures after weeks of protests against poor government services threatened to challenge his rule.
Thousands of Iraqis braved the scorching summer heat to stage a huge protest in central Baghdad on Friday, calling on the prime minister to dissolve the parliament and sack corrupt government officials.
“We want civil parties because the religious ones have proven themselves a failure”, said Basra protester Mustafa Ahmed, 30.
The cabinet and parliament must approve the measures, which were announced in a statement.
Protesters also turned out in Nasiriyah, south of Baghdad, to air similar grievances, an AFP journalist said.
“The government is robbing the Mobilization Forces too!” the protesters cried, with many PMU fighters claiming they weren’t receiving salaries promised to them.
The reforms come two days after Iraq’s most revered Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, called on Mr Al Abadi to quickly address internal issues in the government, including corruption.
A year after assuming office following the Islamic State group’s rapid advance across northern and western Iraq, al-Abadi is still struggling to combat a the extremist group.
In a statement, Abadi said that the number of bodyguards to top officials and parliamentarians would also be decreased.
“(Abadi) should strike with an iron fist those who tamper with the people’s money…
“I renew my position in support of reforms required by the political process and guided by the supreme religious authority (Sistani) to the prime minister”, tweeted Maliki, who remains a potent force in politics, with a network of loyal commanders in the armed forces and Shi’ite militias.
As well as removing the senior posts, Abadi called for an end to sectarian and party quotas for government positions, the reopening of corruption investigations and the reassignment of officials’ security details to the ministries of defence and interior.
Professional groups were on hand, with the members of the lawyers syndicate marching in their judicial robes through the square demanding basic human rights.
Reform was the promise on which Haider al-Abadi was brought to power to replace his predecessor, Nouri al-Maliki, whose policies alienated many Iraqis, especially Sunni Muslims.
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Many Iraqis blame former premier Maliki for the rampant corruption that has plagued the country’s political life since the 2003 U.S. invasion installed a new system of government.
