Delays of votes on contentious bills and political gridlock point to lack of trust, says MP

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s parliamentary votes on key legislation, including amendments to the personal status law, a property restitution bill, general amnesty, and the Popular Mobilization Forces retirement law, were postponed Sunday due to incomplete drafts and unresolved political disagreements.

Mohammed Anouz, a member of Parliament’s Legal Committee, told Al Iraqiya that bundling these controversial bills together highlights a lack of trust among political forces, underscoring the need for further amendments and discussions before moving forward.

The bills, each representing demands from Iraq’s Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish factions, are expected to be reintroduced in Tuesday’s session, according to the parliament’s media office. It remains unclear, however, if the vote will proceed or face further delays,

Excerpts from Mohammed Anouz’s interview with Al Iraqiya:

The postponement of the vote on the Personal Status Law, the Popular Mobilization Forces Retirement Law, and the General Amnesty Law does not mean the cancellation of these laws. The delay occurred because their final drafts have not yet been completed within the [legal] committee.

We have finished the law concerning the decisions of the dissolved Revolutionary Command Council, and we completed some sections of the Personal Status Law. However, the General Amnesty Law is incomplete and requires many new ideas and provisions. Its progress depends on political forces reaching agreements, which need consensus and a strengthening of trust. Including these laws in one package is an indication of the lack of trust between them.

These proposed laws are controversial and need a lot of time to be refined. I have repeatedly said, both inside and outside the committee, that enough time must be given for these laws, and parliamentary committees should be given the opportunity to address the important aspects of these laws.

Overstepping the powers of the specialized parliamentary committees is a violation of Article 13 of the 2018 parliament’s internal regulations. Some of the necessary legal procedures to proceed with the laws have not yet been completed. The second reading requires us to hold several workshops with experts and relevant institutions to hear as many viewpoints as possible.

Political blocs have reached a certain level of agreement regarding the proposed laws, but they have not yet reached final agreements to resolve their issues, particularly the General Amnesty Law, which is witnessing many proposals and new additions, and the risks of proceeding with some of these proposals. There are ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Justice to considering factors such as overcrowding.