Monday, January 24th 2011
MPs to discuss federal court ruling on parliamentary committees
Baghdad, An MP from the al-Iraqiya list said on Monday that in its January 30 session the Iraqi parliament will discuss the recent federal court ruling that connects parliamentary and other independent committees directly to the Cabinet.
Karim Hattab told AKnews that the court's ruling is ambiguous and raises questions as the law and the constitution clearly state that these bodies are connected to parliament, adding that linking them to the Council of Ministers seriously compromises their independence.
Hattab said that Parliament will discuss all details of the resolution and will ask the Federal Court to provide rational justifications for its decision.
“Parliament must have a clear and explicit reason as this ruling affects the performance and functioning of the state,” he said.
Al-Iraqiya spokesman Haidar al-Mullah told AKnews on Saturday that the Federal Court’s January 18 ruling was a move to satisfy those in power at the expense of the constitution and the independence of the boards.
Mullah went on to challenge the constitutionality of the court by pointing out that it was formed by the former civil administrator Paul Bremer and not by parliament itself.
According to the al-Iraqiya List spokesman, the court’s ruling effectively puts the parliamentary committees under the jurisdiction of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, describing this as a “coup against the constitution”.
“Violating the autonomy of the independent boards will mark the end of democracy in the country,” he warned.
“It is time for parliament to activate Article 92 of the Iraqi constitution, which demarcates the Federal Court, the nature of its work and the terms of its references.”
The bodies that the federal court ruling put under the jurisdiction of Maliki’s cabinet include the Supreme Commission of Human Rights, the Independent Higher Electoral Commission (IHEC), the Integrity Commission, the Iraqi Central Bank, the Financial Inspection Office and the Media and Communications committee.
The ruling contravenes both articles 103 and 104 of the Iraqi constitution’s chapter IV which clearly state that these bodies are financially and administratively independent and subject to the supervision of parliament which regulates their work according to the law.
Speaking to AKnews earlier today, Mullah complained that Prime Minister Maliki who has frequently been accused of unilateral decision making since his first term in office, did not consult his own cabinet of ministers on the issue of the independent committees.
“The ministers didn't know about Maliki's request submitted to the Federal Court,” he said.
"This unilateralism in taking decisions is a coup against the agreements concluded between the political blocs within the initiative of the Kurdistan Region's President Massoud Barzani."
http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/213022/
MPs to discuss federal court ruling on parliamentary committees
Baghdad, An MP from the al-Iraqiya list said on Monday that in its January 30 session the Iraqi parliament will discuss the recent federal court ruling that connects parliamentary and other independent committees directly to the Cabinet.
Karim Hattab told AKnews that the court's ruling is ambiguous and raises questions as the law and the constitution clearly state that these bodies are connected to parliament, adding that linking them to the Council of Ministers seriously compromises their independence.
Hattab said that Parliament will discuss all details of the resolution and will ask the Federal Court to provide rational justifications for its decision.
“Parliament must have a clear and explicit reason as this ruling affects the performance and functioning of the state,” he said.
Al-Iraqiya spokesman Haidar al-Mullah told AKnews on Saturday that the Federal Court’s January 18 ruling was a move to satisfy those in power at the expense of the constitution and the independence of the boards.
Mullah went on to challenge the constitutionality of the court by pointing out that it was formed by the former civil administrator Paul Bremer and not by parliament itself.
According to the al-Iraqiya List spokesman, the court’s ruling effectively puts the parliamentary committees under the jurisdiction of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, describing this as a “coup against the constitution”.
“Violating the autonomy of the independent boards will mark the end of democracy in the country,” he warned.
“It is time for parliament to activate Article 92 of the Iraqi constitution, which demarcates the Federal Court, the nature of its work and the terms of its references.”
The bodies that the federal court ruling put under the jurisdiction of Maliki’s cabinet include the Supreme Commission of Human Rights, the Independent Higher Electoral Commission (IHEC), the Integrity Commission, the Iraqi Central Bank, the Financial Inspection Office and the Media and Communications committee.
The ruling contravenes both articles 103 and 104 of the Iraqi constitution’s chapter IV which clearly state that these bodies are financially and administratively independent and subject to the supervision of parliament which regulates their work according to the law.
Speaking to AKnews earlier today, Mullah complained that Prime Minister Maliki who has frequently been accused of unilateral decision making since his first term in office, did not consult his own cabinet of ministers on the issue of the independent committees.
“The ministers didn't know about Maliki's request submitted to the Federal Court,” he said.
"This unilateralism in taking decisions is a coup against the agreements concluded between the political blocs within the initiative of the Kurdistan Region's President Massoud Barzani."
http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/213022/
