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Iraq to investigate claims MPs offering jobs for votes

March 23, 2018 at 11:13 am

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi delivers a speech during a conference in Mosul, Iraq on 14 March 2018 [Yunus Keleş/Anadolu Agency]

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi yesterday ordered an immediate investigation into allegations that fake jobs in the public sector were being offered to citizens by political parties in order to win votes in the country’s upcoming general elections.

The announcement came in a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office. Iraq is due to hold elections on 12 May.

Member of Parliament for the National Iraqi Alliance, Muhammad Al-Sayhud, told the Anadolu Agency that some candidates resort to making false promises to citizens in order to win votes.

Read: Behind the mask of democracy Iraq is a failed state

“The Iraqi Parliament has approved the country’s budget for the current year, which has no new public posts, so the Iraqi people should know that any candidate who promises them future employment is a liar.”

He called on all government institutions to “follow up and hold accountable candidates who make false promises for electoral gain.”

According to Transparency International Iraq is among the world’s most corrupt countries.