Iraqi parliament fails to convene extraordinary session, raising doubts over October elections

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi parliament failed to hold an emergency session on Sunday, with only 57 lawmakers in attendance — far short of the required quorum. The session, called by Speaker of Parliament Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, was intended to address the mandate extension for the board of commissioners at the Independent High Electoral Commission, a crucial step to ensure parliamentary elections proceed as scheduled in October.

The failure to convene the session has heightened concerns about Iraq’s ability to meet its electoral deadlines, with the commission’s mandate set to expire tomorrow. Uncertainty looms over whether the current commission’s mandate will be extended or if a new commission will be appointed in time.

MP Jawad al-Yasari expressed disappointment over the low turnout and warned of the consequences of continued inaction.

“The emergency session called by the speaker of parliament failed to convene due to a lack of quorum, with only 57 deputies present,” al-Yasari said in an interview with state media outlet Al-Iraqiya. “This failure tightens the timeline for either extending the current electoral commission’s mandate or appointing a new one.”

Al-Yasari explained that parliament now faces two options: extend the mandate of the current commission or renew it for a fresh term. He noted that replacing the commission entirely would require political consensus and significantly more time than is available.

“The current IHEC has proven its integrity by successfully managing previous elections, including parliamentary, provincial council, and regional elections,” al-Yasari said. “Given the time constraints, extending their mandate seems to be the most practical solution.”

He also highlighted political power-sharing as a significant obstacle. “The selection of commissioners is inevitably influenced by political bargaining, and claiming otherwise would be misleading. Time is simply not on our side to appoint and train a new commission,” he said.

“By law, the election date cannot be extended, but in reality, this matter may depend on future circumstances and legal opinions,” he added.

Abdul Karim Abtan, deputy chair of parliament’s legal committee, echoed these concerns, warning that the IHEC’s mandate expires on Jan. 7. Failure to act before the deadline could create a constitutional and administrative vacuum.

“Many lawmakers are currently absent due to the legislative recess. Some are traveling for medical treatment, while others are fulfilling constituency obligations both inside and outside Iraq,” Abtan said.

He emphasized that political disagreements remain a key factor preventing consensus on whether to extend or renew the IHEC’s mandate. “The lack of political agreement could force parliament into a scenario where appointing a new commission becomes the only option,” he said.

Earlier this week, Aqil Al-Fatlawi, spokesperson for the State of Law Coalition, stated that a majority of political parties were expected to participate in Iraq’s extraordinary parliamentary session.