Iraqis Question Costly Pensions For Parliament Members
Reactions to a draft law from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Coalition to do away with costly MP pensions are further embroiling the Iraqi political scene in controversy.
Some political blocs in Iraq believe that the demand to abolish retirement pensions for former MPs is a ploy by one political party to restore its popularity after losing in the recent local elections.
Iraqi MP Hanan al-Fatlawi, a member of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Coalition, announced on June 18 that she and 10 other MPs submitted to the Iraqi Council of Representatives a draft law to abolish pensions for MPs and members of the provincial and municipal councils. She noted that another draft law will be submitted to reduce the salaries of high-ranking appointed officials.
At a press conference, Fatlawi said that she “and 10 other MPs submitted to the parliament presidency a draft law to abolish pensions for MPs and members of the provincial and municipal councils.”
There are no reliable numbers available on the money consumed annually by what is likely thousands of retirees — including former MPs, ministers, heads of districts and subdistricts and general directors. Yet the amount is estimated at nearly 100 billion Iraqi dinars ($80 million) per year.
