Parliament enters a coma after sessions were suspended for unknown reasons.
Parliament enters a coma after sessions were suspended for unknown reasons.
4-30-2025
Al-Maalouma/Baghdad…
The Council of Representatives has entered a state of near-coma in its legislative work, as it has not witnessed the convening of its legislative sessions recently, despite the presence of many representatives, performing their duties, and heading to the legislative hall. However, there are unknown reasons preventing Parliament from convening and continuing its work, especially since there are laws still waiting in the corridors of the Council, hoping to be placed on the agenda for reading, discussion, and voting.
Independent politician Ali Al-Fatlawi told Al-Maalouma, “The current parliament is the worst in the history of legislative work in Iraq. The long period of cessation of work and the absence of codified laws, with the exception of what are known as ‘one-basket laws,’ reflects a significant decline in the legislative role. In addition, there is a clear sluggishness in the work of the Iraqi parliament, which requires a real and comprehensive evaluation of its management of the legislative file.” He indicated that “Parliament’s obstruction of its oversight role has directly contributed to the spread of corruption within state institutions, and there are extensive files in the investment, industry, and trade sectors.”
On the other hand, State of Law Coalition member Imran Karkoush confirmed to Al-Maalouma that “the Presidency of the Council of Representatives, led by Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, bears primarily responsibility for disrupting the work of the Council and the failure to hold sessions, in addition to the political blocs, which bear secondarily the responsibility for the continuation of this disruption. Likewise, the political forces and the Presidency in the Council of Representatives have a moral and historical responsibility that obliges them to defend the holding of Parliament sessions without disrupting legislative work at all.” He pointed out that “there are many new developments that require the presence and convening of Parliament sessions, especially with the current challenges facing Iraq. Therefore, there is a problem related to the Council’s internal regulations, in addition to the shortcomings of the Council Presidency, members, and political forces.”
In a related development, MP Mohammed Anouz told Al-Maalouma that “the current and previous legislative sessions were disrupted and paralyzed for various reasons, which postponed many important laws under consideration, and therefore Parliament is clinically dead.” He added that “one of the reasons that made Parliament almost paralyzed is its preoccupation with this session, which will continue due to the upcoming Arab Summit next month, in addition to the disruption of Parliament sessions and the convening of the Arab Parliaments Conference, not to mention the political blocs’ boycott of Parliament sessions due to some laws that have not yet been agreed upon by the heads of the political blocs.”
The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) laws, the PMF’s retirement, Mukhtars’ laws, the civil service law, and the budget schedules, in addition to other laws prepared for legislation, are awaiting parliamentary sessions to proceed with their legislation. However, the suspension has led to some laws being recalled by the government for reconsideration. This has contributed to the continued suspension of parliamentary sessions, especially since some MPs have refused to attend and legislate unless the government sends important laws for a vote, the most important of which is the Popular Mobilization Forces law.
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