The Iraqi Parliament is holding its final session to vote on determining the boundaries of constituencies in the provinces of Kirkuk and Nineveh.
On Saturday the Parliament voted on the electoral districts’ delineation of 16 provinces. Voting on the remaining two provinces (Kirkuk and Nineveh) was postponed to today’s session due to disagreements.
Mariwan Nadir, an MP representing Kirkuk, told KirkukNow: “The disagreements are on several points, among them are dividing the regions between the electoral districts, determining the number of sets for the constituencies, and the determining criterion that will be relied on in the dividing process.” Nadir says that all the discussions are left for today’s session.
In December 2019, the Iraqi parliament approved the provincial elections law, with the exception of the article on "multiple electoral constituency" and parliamentary seats, which is still the subject of disagreement among political blocs, especially in Kirkuk province.
According to Marwan Nadir, Kurds have several proposals and think that the delineation process should be determined by geographical proximity, which they see as the most suitable solution for all sides.
Marwan says that if the MPs don’t reach an agreement at today’s session, they will offer their proposals.
Mukhtar Musawi, an MP representing Nineveh, says that the self-interest of the political parties is being put above that of the country, accuses MPs from Anbar and Salahuddin of meddling in the constituency issue of Kirkuk and Nineveh.
Musawi added that before the session starts, the MPs will be holding a meeting with the first deputy speaker of the parliament.
He further says that some MPs have suggested keeping Nineveh and Kirkuk provinces a single constituency to put an end to the disagreements.
