Salaries of Iraqi parliamentarians to be increased, says Iraqi MP
The salary increase, which has been a source of public speculation and behind-the-scenes discussions, was confirmed by Mustafa Garawi, a member of the Finance Committee in the Iraqi parliament.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The Iraqi parliament is under growing criticism following revelations that lawmakers have moved to increase their own salaries, sparking concerns about transparency and accountability in the government's efforts to tackle corruption.
The salary increase, which has been a source of public speculation and behind-the-scenes discussions, was confirmed by Mustafa Garawi, a member of the Finance Committee in the Iraqi parliament. According to Garawi, a salary boost is not the only demand being made by MPs. "Not only are MPs seeking higher salaries, but they are also requesting to be given the same benefits as ministers, including 600 square meters of residential land each," Garawi said.
The increase in lawmakers' salaries, which reportedly range from 9 million to 12 million Iraqi dinars, was discussed in a closed-door session of parliament. The perks for parliamentarians, including private vehicles and security details, also vary depending on their rank, he added.
“The salary of parliamentarians is meant for their personal livelihood, not for addressing the needs of the people,” Garawi explained. “Even if the salary of a parliamentarian were to rise to one billion dinars, it still wouldn’t fulfill the needs of the people.”
The secrecy surrounding the meeting and the decision to increase lawmakers' pay has raised doubts about the parliament's commitment to addressing widespread corruption and the country's ongoing economic challenges.
Public sentiment has been sharply critical, with many Iraqis questioning whether their representatives are focused on addressing the nation’s issues or merely serving their own interests.
