Iraq MPs quit session aimed at replacing speaker

AFP, BAGHDAD: A group of Iraqi lawmakers said they would not take part in a Saturday parliament session to select a replacement for the speaker, apparently leaving it without the necessary quorum.
Iraq was on course to have two rival claimants to the speakership, further increasing chaos in parliament, which has already seen a vote to sack speaker Salim al-Juburi, a fistfight among MPs and a sit-in this week.
The political turmoil had sidelined Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s efforts to replace the current cabinet, a setback for the premier.
Both the United Nations and Washington have warned that the political wrangling could undermine Iraq’s fight against the Islamic State jihadist group, which overran large areas in 2014 but has since lost significant ground.
MP Qassem al-Araji announced that 23 lawmakers from the Shiite Badr bloc would not participate in the session, saying the parliamentary division could result in two governments and undermine the fight against IS.
“We were living with two parliaments, and that could lead to two governments,” Araji told journalists, warning that might result in “the collapse of the front” against IS.

 

Iraq MPs quit session aimed at replacing speaker

AFP, BAGHDAD: A group of Iraqi lawmakers said they would not take part in a Saturday parliament session to select a replacement for the speaker, apparently leaving it without the necessary quorum. Iraq was on course to have two rival claimants to the speakership, further increasing chaos in parliament, which has already seen a vote to sack speaker Salim al-Juburi, a fistfight among MPs and a sit-in this week. The political turmoil had sidelined Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis efforts to replace the current cabinet, a setback for the premier. Both the United Nations and Washington have warned that the political wrangling could undermine Iraqs fight against the Islamic State jihadist group, which overran large areas in 2014 but has since lost significant ground. MP Qassem al-Araji announced that 23 lawmakers from the Shiite Badr bloc would not participate in the session, saying the parliamentary division could result in two governments and undermine the fight against IS. We were living with two parliaments, and that could lead to two governments, Araji told journalists, warning that might result in the collapse of the front against IS.