Disputes erupt inside Iraqi parliament

The Iraqi deputy in the Parliament, Mohammed al-Khaldy, told Arabstoday that the agenda from Monday's session included the voting on the ‘the high electoral commission’ and ‘infrastructure’ laws. While the opposition strongly criticised the draft of one of the laws, considering it as ‘contradictory’ and unclear in many issues, they described the second draft law as a conspiracy on the political will. The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri Maliki, called on the Parliament to vote on an infrastructure law draft during the session. He confirmed that the draft includes removing excessive buildings and find solutions to their owners. He pointed out that it will be contracted with established companies in Japan, Korea and China to implement those infrastructure projects. The MP for the State of Law Coalitions, Abbas al-Bayaty, described the refusal of the infrastructure law as ‘Political’ not ‘Professional’. The Iraqi list stressed that it shall not vote for the law with its current formula. Al-Bayaty said to Arabstoday that the Head of the Government, Nuri Maliki and his accompanied delegation had explained that the merits of the law will serve the poor class and shall recover the infrastructure in the educational, health, sanitation and water fields. He also added that the MPs are convinced that this law shall serve the Iraqi citizen and will vote on it during the Parliament session - to be held on Monday. He affirmed that the political blocs will support such law. He charged those who reject the law with responsibility before the Iraqi people. However, spokesman for the Iraqi List, Haider al-Mulla, told Arabstoday: “The List will not vote for the draft law unless essential amendments are inserted it. The List hopes to accomplish vital and important projects such as: housing, sanitation and education.” Al-Mulla added: “There are lots of contradictions in the draft law; moreover the law is unclear in many issues.” He called for determining the geographical regions in which the projects will be implemented after enacting the law. The argument between the Iraqi MPs has not been limited to the infrastructure law draft, but it also includes the high electoral commission law on which it was voted last Monday. While nine members of the High Independent Electoral Commission were named, some MPs still insisted on referring the case to the "Federal Court", accusing the spokesperson of the Iraqi Parliament, Osama Nujaifi, of selectivity when it came to dealing with the voted laws. Head of the Badr Bloc, Qasem al-Argy, said: “The voting on selecting nine members for the high independent electoral commission is illegally invalid.” He added that the Badr Bloc, who belong to the ‘Supreme Islamic Council’ - headed by Ammar al-Hakim - filed an appeal against this voting to the Federal Court and they are waiting on their response. Al-Argy added to Arabstoday: “The quorum of the MPs was not completed when voting on the selection of the members while the spokesperson of the Iraqi Parliament, Osama Nujaifi, insisted it is complete. He accused Nujaifi of "selectivity when dealing with laws. The vote on naming nine members instead of 15 in the absence of the MPs of the state of law, the white Iraqiya Bloc and the Kurdish opposition is considered as a conspiracy."