The Iraqi presidency warns of rumours on social media during the transition period
The Iraqi presidency has responded to a series of posts that have been widely shared on social media during a time of high political sensitivity in the country
- Misinformation about the alleged pension and institutional warning
- Delicate political period and opening of presidential nominations
- Constitutional deadlines and the formation of the new cabinet
- Kurdish debate on the selection mechanism and sensitivity of the moment
The presidency of Iraq categorically rejected reports circulating on social media platforms about an allegedly exceptionally high pension attributed to President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid.
The institution described these claims as deliberate attempts to mislead the public, in a context it described as politically sensitive. According to the institution, the messages aim to influence public perception as talks related to the formation of the next government progress.
In an official statement released on Thursday, the presidency categorically denied the existence of such a pension agreement, describing the publications as ‘completely fabricated’. The statement emphasised that neither the president nor any official body under his authority had issued the claims, which falsely suggested that the president had expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Finance for granting him a monthly pension of 90 million Iraqi dinars.
Misinformation about the alleged pension and institutional warning
‘These claims are completely baseless and are part of an orchestrated campaign to undermine the president and state institutions,’ the statement said. ‘They seek to sway public opinion by spreading falsehoods with malicious intent.’
The presidency also warned the public and the media against spreading unverified information, urging them to rely on official sources. It warned that legal action could be taken against those responsible for fabricating and spreading such misinformation.
Delicate political period and opening of presidential nominations
The dispute comes at a delicate political period in Iraq, as consultations intensify on the formation of the next government and debates continue on the mechanism of presidential election. The timing of the misleading reports, observers note, gives them a clearly political dimension that goes beyond mere media sensationalism.
On Wednesday, the Iraqi parliament opened the process of nominations for the presidency, a step that seeks to advance one of the country's key constitutional milestones. Lawmakers allowed only three days for submissions, signalling formal adherence to constitutional procedures, despite acknowledging that reaching a political consensus could take much longer.
Political analysts caution that the opening of nominations does not necessarily imply an imminent appointment. Rather, it represents a procedural step prior to complex negotiations between Iraq's various political factions. While largely ceremonial, the presidency remains a crucial pillar in Iraq's power-sharing system, particularly under the convention that the position has been reserved for a Kurdish leader since 2005.
Constitutional deadlines and the formation of the new cabinet
Constitutionally, the president must be elected within thirty days of the first parliamentary session following the election of the Council leaders. However, Iraqi political history shows that these deadlines are often delayed due to disagreements both within the Kurdish blocs and between the broader Shia and Sunni factions, linking the presidential selection to broader negotiations on the formation of the next government.
The process is of additional importance as it paves the way for the largest parliamentary bloc to take charge of forming a new cabinet, a notoriously long and complex process in Iraq's consociational system, determined by political quotas and overlapping national and regional interests.
Kurdish debate on the selection mechanism and sensitivity of the moment
Earlier this week, Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani called for a review of the presidential selection mechanism, advocating a break with the traditional monopolies between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. He suggested choosing a candidate with broad support among Kurdish factions to foster political stability and avoid further deadlock in Baghdad.
As Iraq navigates these politically charged weeks, the presidency's forceful criticism of misinformation underscores how much is at stake in political messaging and the sensitivity surrounding key leadership transitions.