Iraqi columnist warns that appointments based on loyalty over merit are eroding national identity

BASRA, Iraq — A columnist writing in the Turkish-language Iraqi press has argued that appointments based on personal connections and inheritance rather than competence are undermining Iraq's cultural and administrative fabric. The writer said the trend is most visible in the arts, where stages once reserved for trained musicians now feature figures with no formal background, rewarded for volume rather than skill. The columnist warned that the same pattern has spread to government, particularly in ministries, embassies and parliamentary bodies that should demand scientific and educational expertise. Loyalty and patronage, the writer argued, have replaced merit in determining who holds senior posts, narrowing decision-making to a small circle. Citing the official rhetoric of austerity directed at the public, the author criticized what it described as empty gestures, lavish palaces and hollow discourse that reflect little of Iraq's historical and civilizational depth. The column concluded that any hope of reversing the trend depends on a broader reckoning with the country's past. The opinion piece was published in a Turkish-language Iraqi outlet and reflects the writer's personal assessment rather than an official position. No further details were immediately available.