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Iraq
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi (centre) chairs a parliamentary session in Baghdad on March 18, 2021. Photo: handout/Speaker’s media office
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Iraqi parliament passed an amendment to the 2005 Federal Court Act on Thursday, but did not meet the quorum needed to vote on a controversial bill that sought to grant veto rights to Shiite and Sunni Islamic jurists on the Federal Court.
A minimum two-thirds of the parliament must be present to pass a new law, while amendments to existing legislation can be approved with a simple majority. Kurdish, Christian, and Yazidi lawmakers boycotted Thursday’s parliamentary session, meaning the new law could not be voted on.
"We thank everyone who stood by our side, against passing the new draft of the law, which violates the principles of democracy. And we thank all the representatives who boycotted the session," MP Yonadam Kanna said in a press conference held by minority representatives on Thursday.
The bill had a provision that would add four Islamic jurists from the Sunni and Shiite sects to the Federal Court, granting them veto power and the ability to review, approve, and reject new laws.
The Iraqi federal court is the highest judicial authority in the country and is responsible for adjudicating disputes in federal cases, receiving objections and appeals to decisions issued by the three presidencies (president, prime minister, and parliament speaker), and ratifying election results.
The court has not met since mid-2020, unable to meet quorum.
The bill was heavily debated by lawmakers and Thursday’s session was preceded by a meeting of political blocs to discuss its contents.
Parliament did pass amendments to the existing 2015 law, adding three substitute judges to the court and setting a mandatory retirement age of 72 years for members, according to details shared by MP Sarkawt Shams.
President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, in an official statement, called on council members to meet next Monday to implement these changes.
Parliament will meet again on Friday to vote on the 2021 federal budget.
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