After the holiday, Parliament opens the most critical pending files, and the government faces a legislative test.

After the holiday, Parliament opens the most critical pending files, and the government faces a legislative test.

5-21-2026

Information/Report..
All eyes in Iraq are on the upcoming legislative session, which is expected to witness extensive activity to pass a package of postponed and controversial laws, amid political and popular pressures pushing towards resolving long-awaited files related to oil and gas, retirement, security, traffic, the Popular Mobilization Forces, as well as digital transformation and administrative reform.

As the new government prepares to begin operating with its full executive powers, the legislative authority faces a real test regarding its ability to pass the most sensitive laws, which directly affect the lives of citizens and the relationship between Baghdad and Erbil, in addition to restructuring a number of security and administrative institutions.

Among the anticipated laws, the oil and gas law stands out as one of the most complex issues since 2003, due to ongoing disputes between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region regarding the management of oil wealth and the mechanisms for export and financial distribution.

Member of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, Ibtisam Al-Hilali, confirmed that there is serious movement between the government and the relevant parliamentary committees to prepare the final version of the law, indicating that the Oil and Gas Committee has reached initial understandings with the government to organize the draft legislation, with the participation of the Legal Committee.

Experts believe that the passage of this law could represent a turning point in the relationship between Baghdad and Erbil, especially since it will clearly define the powers of managing oil fields, export mechanisms, and revenue sharing, as well as ending the legal and financial disputes that have cast a shadow over public budgets for many years.

The law is also expected to contribute to attracting foreign investment to the energy sector and providing a more stable environment for companies operating in the oil and gas sector, given Iraq’s need to diversify its financial resources and achieve long-term economic stability.

Among the laws that are receiving widespread public attention are the anticipated amendments to the State Employees’ Retirement and Discipline Law, in addition to settling the controversy related to the legal retirement age.

The government and parliament are seeking to make amendments that balance preserving employee rights with reducing the financial pressure on the general budget, especially with the significant increase in the number of employees and retirees in recent years.

Observers believe that any change to the retirement age will have direct repercussions on the labor market and new job opportunities, at a time when thousands of graduates are demanding that employment opportunities be opened up and unemployment rates be reduced.

On the security and service side, Iskandar Watout, a member of the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, revealed the formation of a specialized committee to review a number of security laws, most notably the National Security Law and the Traffic Law.

The parliamentary move comes after a surge in citizens’ complaints about the high traffic fines, as the committee is moving towards reconsidering the mechanism for imposing fines and their value, in order to alleviate the financial burdens on citizens, while maintaining traffic discipline.

Experts believe that amending the traffic law is not only about fines, but requires a comprehensive overhaul that includes road infrastructure, developing electronic monitoring systems, and regulating traffic in crowded cities.

The relevant parliamentary committee also began reviewing the National Security Law and the Internal Security Forces Law, as part of a move to reorganize the work of security institutions and raise their administrative and organizational efficiency.

MPs confirm that the anticipated amendments will take into account security developments and new challenges, especially those related to combating organized crime, cybercrime, and protecting internal security.

In parallel with the legislative moves, the issue of government automation has returned to the forefront as one of the most important projects that the next government is relying on to combat corruption and reduce financial and administrative waste.

MP Iskandar Watout described the digital transformation as an “electronic revolution” needed by state institutions, calling for the completion of automation projects in ministries and government departments.

Economic and management experts believe that digital transformation can reduce bureaucracy, corruption, and administrative extortion, as well as speed up services and reduce government spending, especially with Iraq’s move towards building a central database for official transactions.

Despite the anticipated legislative momentum, passing these laws will not be easy, as some legislation faces political disputes and intertwined interests among different forces, in addition to the need for broad consensus within parliament.

Furthermore, some laws, particularly those related to retirement, security, and services, require clear financial backing in light of economic challenges and fluctuating oil prices. This may compel the new government to set precise priorities to avoid creating further financial crises.

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