Al-Zamili, in confirmation of Shafak News: We have formed a parliamentary committee to follow up on the work of the Central Bank

Al-Zamili, in confirmation of Shafak News: We have formed a parliamentary committee to follow up on the work of the Central Bank

2022-02-19 07:38

Shafaq News/ Hakim Al-Zamili, the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, on Saturday instructed the formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate the facts, gather information and follow up on the work of the Central Bank of Iraq, while calling on the government to address the negatives resulting from the change in the exchange rate and the rise in market prices. He indicated that the Council will take all necessary measures in If the government is unable to do so, he will be obligated to use his constitutional powers to remedy the effects of this issue.

This came during today’s chairing of an expanded meeting attended by a number of heads of political blocs and representatives, to host Central Bank Governor Mustafa Ghaleb Makhi, while Finance Minister Ali Abdel Amir Allawi refrained from attending, to discuss the issue of currency smuggling and the exchange rate of the dollar and the control of some banks in the currency auction and the development of the most effective solutions to mitigate Its impact on citizens, according to a statement issued by the House of Representatives.

Al-Zamili called on the Public Prosecution to take the necessary legal measures, fundamentally, to prevent the Minister of Finance from traveling “because there are a number of files against him and until the issue of his accountability is resolved when he appears during this week’s session and questioned him in the event of refusal,” blaming “the Ministry of Interior and the Intelligence Service responsible in the event he leaves the country.”

The council’s statement stated that during the meeting, a lot of inquiries, questions and proposals were raised by members of the House of Representatives to the governor of the Central Bank, and in turn, Mustafa Makhrib explained the monetary policy of the Central Bank and the reasons that prompted the rise in the exchange rate of the dollar, and the pledge to hold banks that are beyond controls and manipulate exchange rates to be held accountable.

For his part, Al-Zamili called on the Central Bank administration to provide the House of Representatives with data, information and periodic reports on currency sale auctions, and to work on evaluating the banking policy in the country.

A source in the office of the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hakim Al-Zamili, had previously told Shafak News Agency, that the latter “held a closed meeting with the Governor of the Central Bank, Mustafa Ghaleb, in the presence of the heads of the parliamentary blocs, to find out the bank’s work mechanism as well as solutions to reduce the dollar exchange rate.” .

He added, “It was agreed to form a parliamentary committee headed by Governor Al-Zamili and with the membership of deputies specialized in the financial or economic file, to be nominated by their blocs to exercise their duties in reviewing the financial policy and the Central Bank’s work mechanism in general, and auditing files related to the bank’s work.”

He added that “the committee will begin its work after the completion of the nominations for members of the committee, as well as issuing the official order to sign the Presidency of the Parliament on the committee and start its work, which will be at the latest estimate next week.”

Today, Saturday, the House of Representatives held a meeting in the Constitutional Hall headed by First Deputy Speaker Hakim Al-Zamili to discuss the reality of the dollar exchange rate against the local currency.

The Governor of the Central Bank, Mustafa Ghaleb Mokhif, his deputy, and a number of officials in the bank attended the meeting, while Finance Minister Ali Allawi and his ministry boycotted the meeting, according to Shafak News Agency correspondent.

Al-Zamili opened the meeting with a speech in which he said, “Parliament will question the Minister of Finance for not attending the meeting,” adding that the fiscal and monetary policy in Iraq suffers from defects and damage, and there are risks it faces, so we decided to hold this meeting.

He also said, “We were surprised that the Minister of Finance did not attend the meeting,” noting that “some leaders and leaders contacted us in order to wait on the issue of the Minister of Finance. If we do not exercise our oversight role, Parliament cannot exercise its oversight role or host any minister anymore.” .

The First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives continued by saying, “We heard that the minister wants to submit his resignation, and this is his right, but there are files that must be discussed, and there are requests for signatures from the representatives to host the Minister of Finance in Parliament.”

He added, “Even if Allawi resigns, he will not be left without accountability, and we have files that condemn him,” noting that “we will issue a travel ban against the Minister of Finance until he comes to Parliament.”

“We will hold an emergency session this week at the request of 50 deputies, to discuss fiscal policy, currency smuggling and the exchange rate,” he added.

Al-Zamili accused the Minister of Finance of “transferring his losing experiences to the companies he managed abroad to Iraq, saying that he (the minister) “did not provide anything for this country, and contributed to the rise of Iraq’s debts to 27 trillion dinars in just one year.”

He also mentioned that the Ministry of Finance has not sent its financial accounts so far, and has not taken any measures to collect debts with communication companies, smuggled money and aliens.

On Thursday, the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, presented six proposals regarding the exchange rate of the dollar against the Iraqi dinar, including summoning the Minister of Finance, Ali Allawi, and the governor of the Central Bank, Mustafa Ghaleb, immediately.

Al-Sadr’s proposals included, “strongly stopping currency smuggling, looking into the matter of some banks (such as Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Al-Qabd, and Al-Ansari) belonging to some people who control the currency, and other private banks, and dealing firmly with banks belonging to some of the parties controlling the country and people.”

In addition, Al-Sadr urged “to organize the Iraqi currency market centrally and in a correct manner, by enacting some laws that increase the value of the dinar exchange rate.”

shafaq.com