Parliament says 29 MPs joining Hajj as lawmakers urged to stay for confidence vote

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s parliamentary media office denied Friday reports about the number of lawmakers participating in this year’s Hajj season, saying only 29 members of parliament are taking part, with some assigned official duties monitoring Iraqi pilgrims and others having qualified through the lottery before winning their seats.

“The figures circulating in some media outlets and social media platforms are not based on official information,” the office said, calling on media organizations to rely on official statements.

The clarification comes as parliament faces pressure to maintain quorum for an expected confidence vote on the new cabinet, anticipated Sunday or Monday. Lawmaker Hassan al-Khafaji said Thursday that directives had been issued requiring MPs not to leave for Hajj until after the vote, warning that the absence of 183 lawmakers planning to perform Hajj could disrupt the legal quorum and place parliament outside constitutionally mandated timelines. Arrangements had been made to secure the “last flight” for lawmakers immediately after the vote concludes, he said.

Under Iraq’s constitution, Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi has 30 days from his April 27 nomination to form a cabinet and present it to parliament. An absolute majority of the 329-member parliament — at least 165 votes — is required for the cabinet to be approved.

The 2026 Hajj season is expected to begin around May 25, pending Saudi Arabia’s official moon-sighting announcement.

Lawmakers in Iraq can perform Hajj through special allocations coordinated with the Iraqi Hajj and Umrah Commission, bypassing the public lottery system ordinary citizens use and often wait years to access. The practice has previously drawn criticism.