Chief Justice meets eldest MP ahead of first parliamentary session

BAGHDAD — Chief Justice Faiq Zidan, head of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council, met Wednesday with MP Amer Al-Fayez, who is set to lead the first session of the Council of Representatives on Dec. 29 as its eldest member.

According to a statement from the Supreme Judicial Council, the meeting discussed constitutional requirements for holding the first parliamentary session, including the obligation to elect the speaker of parliament and two deputies during that meeting.

President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid issued a republican decree on Dec. 16 calling the newly elected parliament to convene its first session on Dec. 29. Under the decree, the opening session will be chaired by the oldest member of parliament, in line with constitutional requirements.

Zidan emphasized “the importance of respecting and applying constitutional provisions as stated in the constitution without interpretation based on unfounded opinions.” He added that Articles 54 and 55 of the constitution “explicitly stipulate the election of the speaker of parliament and his two deputies in the first session of the new council.”

He warned that “any interpretation to the contrary constitutes a clear constitutional violation that could open the door to further violations, hindering the formation of both the legislative and executive authorities within the constitutional time limits.”

Iraq’s Nov. 11 elections filled all 329 seats in the Council of Representatives. The Federal Supreme Court ratified the final results earlier this month, formally triggering the constitutional timetable for forming the next government.

Political blocs must elect a speaker and two deputies within 15 days of the first session, after which parliament is required to elect a president of the republic within 30 days. The Sunni blocs, who traditionally hold the speakership, delayed the nomination of a candidate following a meeting yesterday.