Nouri al-Maliki calls for urgent measures to protect citizens' incomes and stabilize markets after exchange-rate adjustment
Al-Maliki urged speeding up the announcement of mechanisms to protect citizens' purchasing power and limit the effects of the dinar exchange-rate adjustment, after the Central Bank changed the dollar selling price and immediate effects appeared on commodity prices.
Head of the State of Law Coalition Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday evening called for speeding up the announcement of measures capable of protecting citizens' incomes and purchasing power and maintaining the stability of markets and economic activities, in light of the decision to raise the dollar exchange rate.
Al-Maliki said in a statement that those concerned with economic affairs are divided between supporters and opponents of the decision, based on concern for citizens' purchasing power and living standards.
He added that measures to adjust the national currency's exchange rate are adopted in some countries facing economic crises, but their success is linked to the government's ability to address their negative effects, protect citizens' incomes, and limit their repercussions on markets.
He pointed out that the government is in the process of taking clear measures and mechanisms to ensure the preservation of citizens' incomes and purchasing power, the stability of markets, and the continuation of economic activities, so as not to place the burden of these adjustments on citizens.
Al-Maliki called on authorities not to use this measure as a pretext to raise alarm or sour the atmosphere, stressing the importance of quickly announcing solutions and measures that can protect individual income and living standards, in a way that safeguards citizens' interests and strengthens economic stability.
The Central Bank of Iraq, based on a decision by the Council of Ministers, amended the exchange rate of the dinar against the dollar, setting the selling price of the dollar to the public at 1,520 dinars, 1,510 dinars for banks, and 1,500 dinars as the purchase price for the dollar from the Ministry of Finance, effective from 7 Tishreen/October 2026.
As a result, prices of a number of food items in Iraqi markets saw a noticeable increase, while some traders immediately raised the prices of goods and others preferred to stop selling until market developments became clearer.
