Ali al-Zaidi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_al-Zaidi was sworn in as Iraq’s new prime minister in Baghdad on Monday, marking the start of his government’s push for economic recovery and anti-corruption measures. In a brief ceremony at the presidential palace, al-Zaidi pledged to tackle Iraq’s deepening financial crisis, which has left salaries unpaid for months and pushed public frustration to new highs. His first major challenge will be convincing parliament to approve the remaining cabinet members, including the critical roles of interior and defense ministers, which remain vacant nearly two months after his appointment was announced. Parliament has been deadlocked over these posts, with political blocs haggling over power-sharing deals that have stalled progress for months. Without these ministers, al-Zaidi’s government can’t fully function, leaving security and law enforcement in limbo. The delays are a sign of the same political infighting that has paralyzed Iraq’s government for years, preventing real solutions to the country’s mounting problems. Iraq’s economy has been hammered by falling oil prices, corruption, and years of mismanagement. Public sector salaries—often the only income for millions—have been paid late or not at all, sparking protests in several provinces. Al-Zaidi, a former finance minister, has promised to overhaul the financial system, crack down on graft, and negotiate better terms with international creditors. But his ability to deliver hinges on parliament’s approval of his team and the political will to back his reforms. The new government faces immediate pressure from Iraq’s powerful militias, some of which operate outside state control and have clashed with security forces. Al-Zaidi has vowed to bring all armed groups under state authority, but that’s a promise previous governments have failed to keep. Iraq’s neighbors, including Iran and the U.S., are watching closely. Iran exerts significant influence over Iraqi politics through allied militias and political parties, while the U.S. has pushed for Baghdad to reduce its dependence on Tehran. Al-Zaidi’s success or failure could shape Iraq’s relationships with both countries in the coming years. What happens next is anyone’s guess. Parliament is expected to resume its debates this week, but the outcome is far from certain. If al-Zaidi can’t secure the votes for his cabinet, Iraq could face another political crisis—or worse, a prolonged period of dysfunction that deepens public anger and instability. The stakes are high, not just for Iraq’s leaders, but for the millions of Iraqis struggling to make ends meet.

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  • Source: Al Jazeera
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 00:14 UTC
  • Category: War
  • Topics: #conflict · #war · #aljazeera · #politics · #government · #iraq

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🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O Iraque tem um novo primeiro-ministro: Ali al-Zaidi assumiu o cargo em Bagdá prometendo reformas profundas em meio à pior crise econômica e política do país em anos. Em seu discurso de posse, o líder, que sucedeu a Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, destacou a urgência de combater a corrupção, estabilizar as finanças públicas e atrair investimentos estrangeiros, enquanto o país enfrenta queda nos preços do petróleo, desemprego recorde e protestos sociais.

A nomeação de al-Zaidi ocorre num momento crítico para o Iraque, onde a população sofre com serviços públicos precários, escassez de água e eletricidade, e uma inflação que corroeu o poder de compra. Para o Brasil, a situação no Iraque interessa não apenas pela segurança energética — o país é um dos maiores produtores de petróleo do mundo —, mas também porque a estabilidade regional afeta diretamente o mercado global de commodities e a geopolítica do Oriente Médio. Além disso, o Brasil mantém relações diplomáticas com Bagdá e poderia atuar como mediador em crises humanitárias ou na reconstrução de infraestrutura, como já fez em outras ocasiões.

Se o Parlamento iraquiano aprovar o novo gabinete, al-Zaidi terá a chance de implementar as reformas, mas enfrentará resistência de elites políticas acostumadas a privilégios e de uma sociedade cada vez mais impaciente com a falta de resultados.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

El nuevo primer ministro iraquí, Ali al-Zaidi, juró el cargo en Bagdad este lunes, marcando un posible punto de inflexión en un país sumido en una profunda crisis económica y política. Con un discurso centrado en la urgencia de reformas estructurales, al-Zaidi asume el liderazgo en un momento crítico, marcado por protestas sociales, escasez de servicios básicos y una creciente desconfianza en las instituciones.

Su nombramiento llega tras meses de tensiones políticas que han paralizado la formación de un gobierno estable, mientras la población exige soluciones a problemas acuciantes como el desempleo, la corrupción y la dependencia de los ingresos petroleros. Aunque el parlamento aún debe validar su gabinete, la llegada de al-Zaidi —con apoyo de la coalición Sadrist— abre una ventana de esperanza para los iraquíes, aunque el camino hacia la estabilidad sigue plagado de obstáculos. Para los hispanohablantes, este escenario refleja los desafíos comunes en regiones en transición, donde la gobernanza efectiva choca con intereses enquistados y demandas ciudadanas insatisfechas.