Iraqi Parliament Extends Electoral Commission's Mandate by Two Additional Years

Key legislative outcomes of the recent Iraqi Parliamentary session are the two-year extension of IHEC's operational mandate and the introduction of amendments to the 2015 Passport Law (No. 32).

The entrance to Iraqi Parliament. (Photo: Archive)
The entrance to Iraqi Parliament. (Photo: Archive)

Jan. 13, 2025

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a noticeable legislative development, the Iraqi Parliament voted on Monday to extend the Independent High Electoral Commission's (IHEC) mandate by two years, following a previously postponed session marked by political tensions.

The parliamentary action occurred against a backdrop of procedural challenges, with Sunday's scheduled session having been postponed due to lack of quorum - a development that parliamentary sources attribute to certain political factions' dissatisfaction with the proposed legislative agenda.

Key legislative outcomes of the recent Iraqi Parliamentary session are the two-year extension of IHEC's operational mandate and the introduction of amendments to the 2015 Passport Law (No. 32).

Sunday's deferred session, primarily scheduled to address six draft laws, showcased the underlying tensions within Iraq's legislative framework.

The failure to achieve quorum emphasized continuous challenges in Iraq's parliamentary processes, with sources highlighting that some political blocs purposely withdrew from participation because of reservations about the session's agenda.

The successful passage of IHEC's mandate extension on Monday, following Sunday's failed attempt, reveals the intricate nature of Iraq's legislative process and the subtle balance required to achieve consensus on key institutional reforms.

This development occurs within a broader context of administrative restructuring and institutional continuity efforts in Iraq's governance framework.