Early national elections have been a key demand of pro-reform demonstrators in protests that began in central and southern Iraq in 2019. AFP
Early national elections have been a key demand of pro-reform demonstrators in protests that began in central and southern Iraq in 2019. AFP
Early national elections have been a key demand of pro-reform demonstrators in protests that began in central and southern Iraq in 2019. AFP
Early national elections have been a key demand of pro-reform demonstrators in protests that began in central and southern Iraq in 2019. AFP

Iraqi Parliament removes last hurdle for early elections with supreme court shake-up


Sinan Mahmoud
  • English
  • Arabic

Iraq’s Parliament has endorsed amendments to the law of the country's Federal Supreme Court, allowing it to fill empty seats and thereby ratify the results of the coming October election.

When the court was created in 2005, details on how it should appoint new members was not part of the legislation, leading to deadlock when one member died and another retired in 2020.

The law stipulates the court will be made up of nine judges, including a head and deputy head. They will be chosen by the country’s judicial authorities in Baghdad and the self-ruled northern Kurdish region.

Political differences – mainly over the mechanism of choosing the court's members and whether it should pass judgments unanimously or by a simple majority – delayed the process for months. A two-thirds majority will now be enough to pass judgments on the court.

Thursday’s approval removed the last obstacle for holding early national elections in October, one of the key demands of the pro-reform protests that broke out in central and southern Iraq in late 2019.

Earlier in the process, Islamist parties introduced a new draft law to allow experts in Islamic jurisprudence to sit with the judges, suggesting two Shiite and two Sunni clerics.

That bill sparked controversy among advocates of the civil state and minorities, forcing parliament to withdraw it last week.

Shortly after the parliamentary session, the head of the Supreme Judicial Council called for a meeting on Monday to enact the law, according to a statement.

In addition to ratifying the results of the elections, the jurisdiction of the Federal Supreme Court is to interpret the constitution and to adjudicate over constitutional disputes.

Politicians in November 2019 approved a new election law and introduced new amendments last year. The law gives independent candidates the chance to win seats in the legislative body.

The new law also divides Iraq into multiple constituencies, unlike previous elections in which the country was treated as one constituency and all parties took seats depending on their share of the national vote.

The new system is designed to prevent political parties from running unified lists that in the past allowed them to sweep parliamentary seats.

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Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

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by David Gilmour

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Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.

You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.

You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.

Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.

 

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Graduated from the American University of Sharjah

She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters

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2004 - Rahul Dravid (IND) ; 2005 - Jacques Kallis (SA) and Andrew Flintoff (ENG); 2006 - Ricky Ponting (AUS); 2007 - Ricky Ponting; 2008 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI); 2009 - Mitchell Johnson (AUS); 2010 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND); 2011 - Jonathan Trott (ENG); 2012 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL); 2013 - Michael Clarke (AUS); 2014 - Mitchell Johnson; 2015 - Steve Smith (AUS); 2016 - Ravichandran Ashwin (IND); 2017 - Virat Kohli (IND); 2018 - Virat Kohli; 2019 - Ben Stokes (ENG); 2021 - Shaheen Afridi