Iraq PM tells Integrity Commission corruption is Iraq's biggest threat

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi has said corruption is the largest threat facing Iraq today, and that his government is determined to confront it. According to a Prime Ministry statement, al-Zaydi made the remarks during a meeting in Baghdad with Taha Defai, head of the Parliament's Integrity Commission, and commission members. Al-Zaydi said the foundation of the state rests on law and integrity, and warned that corruption often begins with inflated project costs. He said public funds would be safeguarded through pre- and post-audit checks on government tenders, and that stronger coordination between the legislative and executive branches would support anti-corruption efforts. Defai and the commission members reaffirmed their support for the government's work on corruption cases. The commission noted that a draft law on internal audit bodies has completed its first reading in Parliament and said the process needs to be accelerated. The commission also asked for a review of contracts signed in the past whose costs are now in question, and urged state institutions to comply promptly with commission requests for documents. No further details were immediately available.