Federal Supreme Court threat to democracy and KRG’s autonomy: Iraqi politician

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – On Friday, Sunni politician Mithal al-Alusi participated in an interview with Kurdistan24 and stated that the Federal Court's decision is “highly predisposed to Iranian influence” and that it targets all communities.

Mr. Al-Alusi expressed surprise at the Iraqi president Latif Rasheed’s lack of response toward the decisions of the Federal Court. He added that, “the wisdom of President Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani will prevent the outbreak of civil war in Iraq.”

Mithal Al-Alusi highlighted that the Federal Supreme Court is not a constitutional court and was established before the drafting of Iraq’s constitution. He added, “Its main goal is to undermine the constitutional and democratic system on which the new Iraq is built.”

Al-Alusi pointed out that the Iraqi president is indifferent to the court decisions; this is due to the fact that some of the decisions “are unconstitutional and the president should intervene.”

"We will not accept the court's decisions if it wants to take Iraq towards centralization, while the constitution says Iraq is federal," he said.

"The Iraqi constitution guarantees the right of all communities to participate in the political process. If the court denies this right, then Iraq is undemocratic and unconstitutional and will move towards dictatorship," he remarked.

Al-Alusi indicated that if it were not for the wisdom of the Kurdistan Region’s political leadership, the country could’ve seen itself gripped by another internal turmoil or even civil conflict. He reflects highly on the political leadership that has allowed thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) to seek refuge in the Kurdistan Region and deems the coexistence within the Kurdistan as admirable. “These are the values that are under threat,” he warned.

On Wednesday, February 21, the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court met to resolve the complaints filed against the salaries of employees and civil servants in the Kurdistan Region and the election law for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections.

Some of the decisions of the Federal Court on the Kurdistan Parliamentary Elections:

1. The Independent High Commission for Elections and Referendums (IHEC) shall be responsible for conducting and supervising the sixth round of the Kurdistan Parliamentary elections in place of the Independent High Commission for Elections and Referendums (IHEC).

2. For the sixth round of Kurdistan Parliamentary elections; The Kurdistan Region is divided into four constituencies.

3. The number of quota seats of 11 is abolished and unconstitutional; Accordingly, the total number of seats in the Kurdistan Parliament will be reduced from 111 to 100.