Former Minister Jasem Mohammed Jaafar criticized today, Tuesday, the trend towards establishing new ministries and the increase in the number of Deputy Prime Ministers, considering them additional administrative layers that do not align with the difficult economic conditions Iraq is facing.
Jaafar mentioned in a press interview reviewed by "Video News Agency" that "the talk about the establishment of new ministries provokes the dissatisfaction of the Iraqi public in light of the economic crisis and the repercussions of the dollar's price hike," indicating that "the current phase requires reducing unnecessary expenses instead of adding new burdens to the budget."
He added that "the establishment of new ministries alongside having four Deputy Prime Ministers does not achieve a clear benefit that justifies the associated costs, especially at a time when the state faces challenges related to providing salaries and financial obligations, while large segments of citizens struggle to secure their daily living requirements."
Jaafar clarified that "the creation of ministries is not limited to allocating salaries for officials, but also requires providing buildings, staffing, and administrative and operational supplies, which adds new expenses to the budget at a time when the economy needs to rationalize spending and reorder priorities."
He pointed out that "justifying the establishment of these positions and ministries as not constituting a financial burden needs clarification," emphasizing that "any expansion of the government structure should be based on actual needs and clear returns, rather than increasing the number of institutions and positions without tangible results."
Jaafar stressed that "the priority at this stage should be to address the economic crisis and ensure the provision of salaries and improve the living conditions of citizens," warning that "proposing government expansion projects amid these challenges may increase public dissatisfaction and deepen the feeling of unfair distribution of financial burdens."