Iraq's Corruption
People & Institutions

Hoshyar Zebari

هوشيار زيباري

This page sets out what the documents in this archive record about this person: the legal status on the date shown, the cases, the official registers and the sources.

Legal status as of 20 October 2026

Removed from office

Removed from an official post.

What the documents say

Parliament withdrew confidence from him on 21 September 2016 by 158 votes to 77 in a secret ballot, after questioning him on 25 August 2016 about the hire of a private aircraft for USD 90,000, payments to the Kurdistan Region contrary to the 2015 budget law and more than IQD 2 billion spent on flying him and 450 guards between Erbil and Baghdad. He denied the allegations and blamed former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for the vote. On 13 February 2022 the Federal Supreme Court ruled that he could not stand for President; the plaintiffs had cited the 2016 vote. Not charged with any offence over these matters as far as the sources show, as of 19 October 2026.

Kind
Person
Roles
  • Minister of Finance (2014 to 2016); earlier Minister of Foreign Affairs

Cases

These are the cases in this archive that name this entry, with the status in each case on the date shown.
Cases
CaseRoleStatus in this caseDetailAs of
Finance Minister Hoshyar Zebari: Parliament withdraws confidence after questioning him on the use of public funds (2016), and the Federal Supreme Court bars his candidacy for President (2022)Minister of Finance (2014 to 2016); earlier Minister of Foreign AffairsRemoved from officeParliament withdrew confidence from him on 21 September 2016 by 158 votes to 77 in a secret ballot, after questioning him on 25 August 2016 about the hire of a private aircraft for USD 90,000, payments to the Kurdistan Region contrary to the 2015 budget law and more than IQD 2 billion spent on flying him and 450 guards between Erbil and Baghdad. He denied the allegations and blamed former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for the vote. On 13 February 2022 the Federal Supreme Court ruled that he could not stand for President; the plaintiffs had cited the 2016 vote. Not charged with any offence over these matters as far as the sources show, as of 19 October 2026.19 October 2026

Dated events

Each recorded step in the legal record of this entry is listed here in order of date.
  1. 25 August 2016
    Accused by an official bodyQuestioned in Parliament at the request of MP Haitham al-Jubouri
  2. 21 September 2016
    Removed from officeParliament withdrew confidence by 158 votes to 77
  3. 13 February 2022
    Removed from officeThe Federal Supreme Court ruled that he could not stand for President

Documents

These are the documents behind this entry. Each quote is given in the language of the document.
  1. Middle East Eye (Reuters)21 September 2016Press reportTier D

    Iraqi finance minister sacked amid corruption probe

    Parliament voted 158-77 to withdraw confidence from Hoshiyar Zebari, two MPs said, after questioning him last month about alleged corruption and misusing public funds, which he denies.
    Original address
  2. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty21 September 2016Press reportTier D

    Iraqi Parliament Dismisses Finance Minister

    Parliament voted by majority on September 21 to dismiss Zebari after questioning him last month on charges of corruption and mismanagement, which he denies.
    Original address
  3. The National21 September 2016Press reportTier D

    Iraq MPs vote to sack finance minister after corruption allegations

    A total of 158 MPs voted against Mr Zebari and 77 supported him in Baghdad on Wednesday, while 14 abstained, deputy speaker Humam Hamoudi said.
    Original address
  4. Kurdistan24 (statement of the Council of Representatives)25 August 2016Official statement reported by the mediaTier B

    زيباري ينفي اتهامات بالفساد في جلسة استدعاء بالبرلمان العراقي

    وطرح الجبوري عددا من الأسئلة على زيباري من ضمنها مزاعم بتأجير زيباري طائرة خاصة بـ90 ألف دولار من المال العام.
    Original address
  5. Asharq Al-Awsat22 September 2016Press reportTier D

    زيباري يهدد بكشف ملفات فساد كبيرة في العراق

    هدد وزير المالية العراقي المقال هوشيار زيباري أمس، بكشف ملفات فساد كبيرة في البلاد، متهما رئيس الوزراء السابق نوري المالكي بالوقوف وراء قرار إقالته
    Original address
  6. Independent Arabia (ruling of the Federal Supreme Court, via the Iraqi News Agency)13 February 2022Official statement reported by the mediaTier B

    الفساد يستبعد "زيباري" نهائيا عن الترشح للرئاسة العراقية

    أصدرت المحكمة الاتحادية في العراق، أعلى سلطة قضائية بالبلاد، الأحد، قراراً باستبعاد هوشيار زيباري نهائياً من الترشح لانتخابات رئاسة الجمهورية بعد تعرضه لاتهامات بالفساد.
    Original address

Articles

These press articles mention this name and are listed with the newest first. They are given for journalists and researchers. An article is a report, not a finding. (12 articles)