Who’s Who In Ihe Iraqi Interim Government

When Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations Special Adviser to the Secretary General on Iraq, was invited to Iraq in February 2004 by the Iraqi Governing Council and the Coalition Provisional Authority, the purpose of the trip was to advise the possibility of holding elections by June 30, 2004.

After the UN fact finding team determined that free and fair elections could not be held prior to June 30th, the deadline for turning over sovereignty to Iraq, the decision was made to form an interim government for a period of seven months. The most important task of the Iraqi Interim Government, IIG will be to prepare Iraq for the planned January 2005 election.

As indicated by name, this is an “interim” government that will only be in office from the period of June 30, 2004 [when they take power] to no later than January 31, 2005, when the Iraqi Transitional Government will be formed through the election process. Once the Iraqi Transitional Government is formed, the IIG will dissolve.

The IIG is grouped into the following sections – the Presidency, the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, The Supreme Commission, National Conference and Interim National Council and the Judicial Authority. All sections will operate under the rules defined in the TAL, and annex.

The Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) will go into effect on June 30, 2004 and will be the supreme law of the land, providing a bill of rights for the Iraqi people. The TAL Annex is the legal provisions of the TAL that apply specifically to the Iraqi Interim Government.

THE PRESIDENCY of Iraqi will consist of The President who will act as the Head of State, and two Deputy Presidents. The Presidency will oversee the higher affairs of the county, and must unanimously approve orders issued by the Council of Ministers before they become law.

THE PRIME MINISTER and Council of Ministers have the day-to-day responsibility for management of the government, including improving security, promoting economic development, providing for the welfare of the Iraqi people and preparing for the January 2005 elections. Iraq’s ministers will report directly to the Prime Minister.

THE SUPREME COMMISSION will consist of approximately 60 respected Iraqi leaders, including former members of the Governing Council, as well as representatives from the provinces and other distinguished citizens. During July the Supreme Commission will convene a National Conference of at least 1,000 people. The purpose will be to engage in genuine national dialogue on the challenges of the country.

The National Conference will choose an Interim National Council of 100 members to help oversee the government. Specific powers of the Interim National Council are specified in the TAL Annex. The Council will have the ability to hear citizens’ views, question the government on policy, form committees and veto orders or decrees from the Council of Ministers, by a two-thirds majority vote. In addition, the National Conference has the authority to appoint replacements to the Presidency if members die or resign, and have the right to approve the 2005 Iraqi national budget.

THE JUDICIAL AUTHORITY is independent from the executive branch and includes a Federal Supreme Court, Court of Cassation, Court of Appeal, the Central Criminal Court of Iraq and existing courts outside the Kurdistan region. There will also be a Higher Juridical Council that will supervise the federal judiciary as well as administer its budget.

Once the elections for the new Transitional National Assembly and Government are held, no later than January 31, 2005, the TNA will then draft a permanent constitution for the State of Iraq. Under this constitution national elections will be held to establish a permanent Iraqi government in December 2005.

In the meanwhile, after June 30, 2004 the IIG will have the power to conclude international agreements in diplomatic relations and economic reconstruction, including Iraq’s sovereign debt. It will have full control over Iraq’s oil revenues and natural resources, as well as full control over the Iraqi Armed Forces, Police and ICDC. The IIG will not be able to amend the TAL, or make any agreements which permanently alter the destiny of Iraq. The IIG will not have control over US forces, or any other multi-national forces in Iraq.

The IIG offices will be located in the building formerly used by the Iraq Governing Council, while the Government Ministries will remain in their current buildings. On June 30, 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority will cease to exist and shortly thereafter Ambassador Bremer will return to the U.S. After June 30, 2004 the Republican Palace will be used to provide office space for the overflow from the US Embassy.

After the appointment of the Iraqi Interim Government on June 1, 2004, the Iraqi Governing Council was dissolved. Since the IIG does not take power until June 30, 2004 that leaves the Coalition Provisional Authority in total control of Iraq from now until June 30, 2004.

As you can readily see by the amount of detail, a tremendous amount of thought was put into the transition of Iraq into a sovereign nation, and it’s quite obvious that leaving the CPA in complete charge of Iraq for a full month was certainly not an oversight.

Is this perhaps the perfect opportunity for the U.S. to try Saddam Hussein for alleged crimes against the Iraqi people?

Source: Coalition Provision Authority

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