MP: Political divisions freeze Iraqi Parliament
Rifts among Iraq's ruling coalition have paralyzed parliamentary activity and derailed votes on major legislation, a lawmaker revealed on Tuesday.
Mukhtar al-Moussawi, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, told Shafaq News Agency that ongoing disputes between the blocs forming the government have reduced Parliament to little more than attendance. 'There's no consensus—sessions may be held, but without real outcomes,' he remarked.
The deadlock has already obstructed key legislation, including the Federal Budget Law and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Law, he added, warning that continued disagreement could prevent sessions from taking place altogether.
Al-Moussawi also criticized the government's role in deepening the impasse, describing an atmosphere where election campaigning has crossed legal boundaries. 'Political money is flooding the scene while Parliament remains idle—and ultimately, it's the Iraqi people who pay the price,' he added.
With fewer than a week remaining before the end of Iraq's parliamentary recess, the stalemate has drawn growing concern. Several lawmakers have confirmed behind-the-scenes pressure from party leaders to delay sessions and block sensitive legislation, allegedly aiming to shield the government and some factions from controversy ahead of the November 11 elections.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
an hour ago
- Rudaw Net
Iraqi cabinet stalls on KRG salaries, forms committee to address Erbil-Baghdad issues
Also in Iraq Erbil-Baghdad oil, salary deal excluded from Iraqi cabinet agenda Iraqi PM sends committee to investigate Kirkuk Turkmen protests Sudani receives Turkish intel chief in Baghdad Kurds to unite against Diyala district changes A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi Council of Ministers has failed to reach a concrete decision to resolve the ongoing salary crisis affecting more than 1.2 million civil servants in the Kurdistan Region. Instead, the cabinet has opted to form a committee to address outstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad. In a statement on Facebook, Karwan Yarweis, a Kurdish lawmaker in the Iraqi parliament representing the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), said Tuesday that the cabinet 'did not make a decision regarding the [stalled] salaries' of public sector employees in the Kurdistan Region. Tensions between Erbil and Baghdad escalated in late May when Iraq's federal finance ministry suspended all budget transfers to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), including salary payments. The ministry accused the KRG of overspending beyond its 12.67 percent share of the 2025 federal budget and failing to deliver its share of oil to the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO). The crisis has been further deepened by the ongoing suspension of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, which has remained offline since March 2023 following an international arbitration ruling. On Monday, a senior KRG delegation arrived in Baghdad to resume negotiations with federal officials over the long-running financial dispute that has led to repeated salary delays for public employees. A day earlier, Iraq's parliament had announced that 'solutions were reached' on major points of contention between Erbil and Baghdad, with plans to discuss them 'in the coming days.' The statement followed a series of meetings between Iraqi Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and top Kurdish leaders in Erbil, including Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani. Informed sources told Rudaw last week that a major sticking point remains the volume of oil Erbil must commit to SOMO. While Baghdad has insisted on 400,000 barrels per day (bpd), Erbil has offered 280,000 bpd as an initial figure. According to MP Yarweis, the Iraqi cabinet on Tuesday formed a committee made up of representatives from the ministries of justice, health, finance, planning, and higher education. The committee is tasked with 'reviewing and reconciling' two proposals submitted separately by the federal government and the KRG to address the salary crisis, oil revenues, domestic income, and taxation. Yarweis added that the two proposals overlap in several areas and will be jointly presented to the Council of Ministers for further discussion and potential approval. Earlier on Tuesday, Iraq's state-run al-Sabah newspaper reported that negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad had made 'significant progress,' and both sides were getting 'closer' to reaching a resolution. The report added that efforts to finalize an agreement based on constitutional principles have been accelerated.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
US Embassy: Diplomatic missions in Iraq operational
Shafaq News – Baghdad/Washington The US Embassy in Baghdad confirmed, on Tuesday, that both its mission in the capital and the Consulate General in Erbil remain operational despite recent staff reductions. An Embassy spokesperson explained to Shafaq News that personnel began departing on June 12 'out of an abundance of caution' due to growing regional tensions. A second group left on June 21 as part of efforts to 'streamline operations.' While describing the drawdown as temporary, the spokesperson declined to disclose numbers, citing security concerns. 'We remain committed to advancing our policy priorities in Iraq, strengthening Iraq's sovereignty, and engaging with Iraqi leaders and the Iraqi people,' the spokesperson asserted. The update followed a June 11 announcement about the initial reduction, which officials linked to President Donald Trump's directive to prioritize the safety of US personnel abroad after the recent confrontation between Israel and Iran.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq Presidencies urge action on Khor Abdullah agreement
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq's three presidencies agreed on Tuesday that the Parliament must take the necessary legislative action following a ruling by the Federal Supreme Court requiring the re-legislation of the law ratifying the Khor Abdullah navigation agreement. The meeting, held at Baghdad Palace and attended by President Abdul Latif Rashid, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and Speaker of Parliament Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, reaffirmed Iraq's commitment to international agreements, United Nations charters, and Security Council resolutions, according to a statement from the PM's media office. The leaders emphasized the importance of protecting Iraq's reputation and foreign interests, warning against any actions that could cause harm. Following the meeting, Parliament member Saud al-Saadi stated that Iraqi authorities remain committed to annulling what he called a 'humiliating agreement,' and stressed the need to uphold the legislative process. He also called for the withdrawal of the two legal challenges filed by the President and Prime Minister, urging a reversal of the agreement. 'We await another honorable national stance from the Iraqi judiciary regarding our appeal against Decision No. 266 of 2025, concerning the demarcation of the shared maritime border between Iraq and Kuwait,' al-Saadi added. In mid-April, the president and the prime minister each filed appeals to the Federal Supreme Court, asking it to reverse its earlier decision that struck down Law No. 42 of 2013. That law had ratified the navigation agreement between Iraq and Kuwait in the Khor Abdullah waterway. The appeals called on the court to reinstate the deal. On September 4, 2023, the Federal Supreme Court ruled that Law No. 42 of 2013 was unconstitutional.
