PUK MP: Iraq's electoral law amendment has been approved

Iraq 02:56 PM - 2023-03-27

The Iraqi Parliament's session on amending the electoral law.

On Monday, the third amendment to the electoral law was put to a vote in the Iraqi parliament, despite objections from various political parties and independent MPs. A member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) faction stated: "The PUK faction did not vote for the amendment to the law."

After hours of discussion, the Iraqi parliament voted on the third amendment to the electoral law around five in the morning on Monday. As a result, Kirkuk will also be included in the provincial council elections that will take place before the end of the year using the Sainte-Laguë voting system.

The third amendment to the elections, according to the protesting factions, contained a number of articles and clauses that had numerous errors and flaws. Also, there is confusion regarding the issues of Kirkuk, Mosul, the minority quota, as well as the census of Kirkuk.

The PUK faction did not vote for the amendment

The third amendment to the law on the elections of the Iraqi parliament and provincial councils, which consists of 15 articles, was adopted by a majority vote of the 189 MPs in attendance, according to a statement from the Iraqi parliament.

Member of the PUK faction in the Iraqi parliament, Dr. Briar Rashid, told PUKMEDIA: "There were numerous objections, the PUK party did not vote for the amendment, and the independent MPs arrived at the parliament hall and prevented the session."

According to Rashid, the independent MPs were evicted from the meeting and were not allowed to return to the parliament hall as the session descended into chaos, and they began chanting slogans as voting began. However, the meeting continued. 

More than 70 MPs were pushed out of the parliament hall

During the voting on the amendment bill, more than 70 independent MPs and a few factions demonstrated against the law. As a result, the speaker of parliament attempted to keep them out of the hall by using guards, who then entered the room.

"The PUK faction did not support the amendment because we had objections on the provisions related to the Kirkuk elections," Rashid said.

Kirkuk will hold elections along with other provinces

According to the draft amendment, the elections will be held in Kirkuk on the same day as other Iraqi provinces, based on a census conducted in 1957.

According to Articles 2, 6, and 7 of the law, elections for the next provincial council sessions must take place 45 days prior to the provincial councils' terms expiring on December 20, 2023.

The female quota will be 25%

The law also specifies the requirements for running in provincial and parliamentary elections. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree, be at least 30 years old, and be clear of any criminal convictions.

According to the law, there will be 329 seats in the Iraqi parliament, including nine for minorities and 25% for women.



PUKMEDIA