MP Mukhtar al-Moussawi: More than 50 MPs have been absent since the beginning of the session.
MP Mukhtar al-Moussawi: More than 50 MPs have been absent since the beginning of the session.
2025-04-16
MP Mukhtar al-Moussawi issued a scathing warning on Tuesday (April 15, 2025) regarding the absence of more than 50 MPs from parliamentary sessions since the start of the current parliamentary session, referring to a phenomenon he described as “exceptional” and unprecedented, even in comparison to parliaments around the world.
Al-Moussawi said in a press statement that “a representative is only elected to be the voice of the people under the dome of parliament, and they are responsible for attending, interacting with legislative committees, and preparing reports.” He expressed surprise at the absence of such a large number of representatives “without attending even a single session.”
He added, wondering, “Do these representatives have convincing excuses? Are the salaries and benefits they receive permissible in light of this complete absence?” He warned that “the continuation of this situation sends negative messages to the public and undermines people’s confidence in the legislative institution.”
Al-Moussawi pointed out that “dividing the parliament’s presidency among the three components has weakened the mechanism for dealing with this phenomenon,” emphasizing that “the presence of these representatives in the sessions could have made a difference in passing dozens of important laws or bringing them up for discussion.”
He concluded by saying, “What is happening is painful for the legislative process and requires a serious stance from the presidency and political blocs to restore the prestige of Parliament.”
For years, the House of Representatives has witnessed widespread controversy regarding the performance of its members, particularly regarding attendance and actual participation in legislative sessions.
MP Mukhtar al-Moussawi’s remarks come at a time when Iraq is suffering from mounting political and legislative crises, requiring an active presence of parliamentarians to contribute to the passage of reform laws and monitor government performance.
burathanews.com
