Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi spoke in Parliament on 20 February about his proposed reforms, including the appointment of a technocratic cabinet (MEES, 12 February). In a session that lasted two hours he failed to provide detail on how the ministers were to be appointed, but succeeded in attacking political opponents including his predecessor Nuri al-Maliki and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani.
In a session during which parliamentarians alternatively praised, questioned and mocked his proposal, initially announced on 9 February, Mr Abadi focused his time on framing the political narrative, discussing, as he does in nearly every speech, the horrendous economic and security conditions he inherited. (CONTINUED - 1133 WORDS)
