Iraq's parliament on Saturday expressed confidence in the answers of Electricity Minister Qassim al-Fahdawi following an interrogation about a persistent power crisis that has prompted widespread protests and a new push for reform. Demonstrations in Baghdad and many southern cities, precipitated last month by anger at widespread electricity cuts amid a sweltering heatwave, have evolved in recent weeks to call for the trial of corrupt politicians and the shakeup of a system riddled with graft and incompetence.
The exoneration of Fahdawi, who took office a year ago, could stir anger among protesters who complain they have yet to see tangible results from reforms announced this month by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Partly in response to the protests, Abadi has introduced measures to combat corruption and mismanagement including scrapping layers of senior government posts, cutting security details and other perks for officials, and encouraging corruption investigations.
Fahdawi has said he should not bear the blame for a system worn down by years of war and under-investment under previous ministers and hamstrung currently by state coffers suffering from low oil prices. Electricity supplies collapsed in the chaos after the US invasion in 2003 when power plants were looted or not properly maintained. Islamist insurgents have targeted transmission towers and other infrastructure in subsequent years, while the Baghdad government has been unable to keep up with demand.
Tens of thousands of protesters rallied on Friday to demand Abadi accelerate his reforms, put corrupt officials on trial and loosen the grip of powerful parties over the state. Thousands of security forces were deployed but the demonstrations remained mostly peaceful.
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