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By Mufid Abdulla:
What is a technocrat government? This is ‘a form of government in which engineers, scientists, health professionals and other technical experts are in control of the decision-making in their respective fields’.*
When the opposition parties called for the dissolution of the government on 27 January, the two ruling parties took this very seriously, sending their militia from the barracks into the streets. They also came to realise eventually that the people want change because every day more and more people joined the rallies in Azadi Square.
The President of Kurdistan, Barzani, considers himself a humble political leader. Along with the ruling parties, he has offered the opposition various options before the due date of the election, including the formation of a coalition government. He has asked the opposition to participate in the government. The two ruling parties are obsessed with this idea of coalition. In spite of the enormity of the tasks ahead, there are at least signs that Kurdistan is moving away from civil war.
In response, opposition groups have told Barzani, “Basically you have misunderstood us. We are not seeking participation in a broad coalition, we are seeking a broad technocrat government with a transition phase that includes an end to militia rule, dissolving the security services and building a new government structure to integrate and unite the nation from Dhok to Sulaymani.”
A technocrat government should lay the basis for a new society. It would need a clear road map and a robust business plan to develop a productive, ‘making-things’ economy. It must support local businesses and build a relationship with genuine entrepreneurs and with tomorrow’s employers. The key issue in Kurdistan, as elsewhere in Iraq, is the economy. Decentralising power from the capital is important, as is decreasing the wealth gap between urban and rural areas.
The President of Kurdistan must understand that he has no future with his nation unless he takes the initiative for real change. The KDP and PUK must recognise the scale of their defeat. But long-term answers are just as significant. There is a lot of talk about rights but not enough about responsibilities, which is not good for our people as they prepare for real power. The KRG cannot carry on as currently. It must be controlled by technocrats who can decide on the best measures for this fractured nation. We need a civilian government instead of the rule of Bonapartes and commandos. Barzani has a choice and he should accept that power must be in the hands of the people.
Consider the example of India. They managed to resolve their crisis of May 2004 by selecting Dr Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister, even though he had no connection with the opposition parties. India chose him to combat widespread corruption. He was a technocrat who made a real difference to India’s standing, both locally and internationally.
*Source: Wikipedia
