Iraqi Labor Minister warns of electoral law amendments' risks

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - The Iraqi Labor Minister, Ahmed al-Asadi, warns that the resignation of government officials in exchange for participating in the elections, as proposed in an amendment to the electoral law, "could lead to the collapse of the state."

He emphasized, "The issue of early elections does not align with the Coordination Framework's proposal, with most parties opposing the amendment of the electoral law. It's only the State of Law Coalition pushing for amendments, including the addition of 20 more seats."

Since the liberation of Iraq, three electoral laws have been enacted, with two undergoing radical revisions and several articles being amended. Currently, a fourth amendment is being pursued, requiring the approval of a majority of political parties.

While Coordination Framework officials claim to have a unified opinion on the issue of amendment, the specific details and draft remain elusive. However, one provision expected to be included is the exclusion of ministers and prime ministers from candidacy, along with the inclusion of Iraqis abroad in the elections.

Regarding constituencies, the State of Law Coalition, led by Nuri al-Maliki, aims to reinstate a multi-constituency system over the existing single constituency model per province.

This proposal faces opposition from other Shiite factions, who argue that reverting to a multi-constituency setup, akin to that of the 2021 elections, would lead to losses in both seats and votes.

Political sources indicate that the withdrawal of the Sadrist Movement is being perceived by the Coordination Framework as an opportunity to amend the electoral bill and secure its passage with a parliamentary majority. Such a move would preempt the movement from vying for the prime ministerial position, even if it were to attain a majority.