ALBAWABA -Ali Al-Zaidi, Iraq’s new and youngest PM ever, has begun a battle against corruption - making the first move by seizing $86 million in cash alongside properties, vehicles, and gold.
Corruption is a long-standing issue in Iraq; especially in the public sector - something already widely known by the Iraqi populace. However, Iraq’s new and youngest PM seems to be giving Iraqis a breath of fresh air; opening investigations into wasted funds in government projects.
Ali Al-Zaidi, Iraq’s new PM, is only 40-years-old - making him the youngest PM in Iraq’s history; he is also a multimillionaire businessman from a notable family in the south of Iraq.
While some have drawn similarities between Al-Zaidi and Trump, Al-Zaidi, it seems, has no interest in making himself richer on the backs of hardworking Iraqis; instead, going after those who made their wealth through corruption; with supporters noting that his immense wealth makes him ‘incorruptible’.
The rousing wave of arrests and seizures that came from Zaidi’s investigations into wasted funds from government projects has boosted public morale and support - with Zaidi’s government seizing millions alongside assets from major figures in Iraqi politics.
One central figure is Adnan al-Jumaili, the former head of the Iraqi North Refineries Company was arrested in his home as a part of Zaidi’s government probes.
The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council on Tuesday said that cash seized in an investigation into alleged corruption linked to Jumaili - who is also the former undersecretary of the Oil Ministry for Refining Affairs - had risen to about $86m. It added that 70 properties, 21 vehicles and about three kilograms of gold jewelry had been seized.
Alongside Jumaili, Raed al-Jubouri, the former governor of Salah al-Din governorate was also arrested; being the director of health in the Salah al-Din governorate at the time of his arrest.
Iraq placed 136 out 186 countries according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2025 - with Iraq making some improvement in past years though still considered quite corrupt.
Ali Al-Zaidi, it seems, has set his mind to changing this reality; in one of his first decisions, Al-Zaidi established the Supreme Sovereign Council for Integrity, Oversight and Recovery of Public Funds with himself at the head of the council - next he canceled the $764m Baghdad international airport development project due to suspected corruption.
“The Iraqi government and the prime minister regard corruption as one of the gravest challenges threatening the Iraqi state and its political order,” Iraqi government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi said in a recent news conference.
“I admit that this is the first time I have seen a collective anticorruption effort headed by the prime minister,” Mousa Faraj, former head of the Iraqi Federal Integrity Commission, told Al Jazeera.
Al-Zaidi’s efforts have made waves in Iraqi politics and society - will this be the first step towards actual change in attitude toward corruption or will Zaidi’s efforts be ultimately unsubstantial in the face of the major corruption crippling Iraq’s government?
