Iraqi legislators report agreement on election law

Sun, 06 Dec 2009

Baghdad - An agreement has been reached by the parties in Parliament on a new election law for Iraq's upcoming vote, legislators said Sunday. If passed, the it would pave the way for voters to head to the polls early next year. However, the legislators questioned whether the needed quorum could be gathered to push the bill into law during a late-night special session of the house.

While details remain cloudy, the main change would be an increase in the number of deputies, from 275 seats to 325 seats, legislator Khaled al-Asadi said.

Allocation of seats and representation of Iraq's religious and ethnic minorities have created tensions in the lead up to passing the law.

Tariq al-Hashemi, a vice president of Iraq, has already vetoed one law and threatened to do so again, saying citizens abroad were being marginalized. Iraqis in Jordan, Syria and other areas are believed to be mostly Sunni, like al-Hashemi.

The new deal was aimed at reaching a consensus.

Originally, the nationwide elections had been slated for the middle of January, but officials say the vote will now likely take place in late February or March.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/298061,iraqi-legislators-report-agreement-on-election-law.html.