Possible Breakthrough On Election Law Deadlock

The Washington Post reported that there might be a tentative agreement on the Iraqi election law. The Post said that the number of seats up for grabs in Ninewa would be increased to satisfy Sunnis. A spokesman for Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, who vetoed the election bill, said that he had tentatively agreed to this compromise. After Hashemi rejected the legislation, the major Shiite parties and the Kurdish Alliance amended the law that would give most of the seat increases due to population growth to the Kurds. They had threatened a boycott if that didn’t happen. Those came at the expense of Sunni provinces like Ninewa however, which led the Vice President to threaten a second veto. Hashemi’s okay is the only thing holding up the legislation going into affect as the other members of the Presidential Council, President Jalal Talabani and Vice President Adul Adel Mahdi have already signed off on the amended version. Iraq is in the middle of an Islamic holiday, Id al-Adha, however, so Hashemi may not sign off on it until the celebrations are over.

SOURCES

AK News, “A spokesman for Vice President Hashimi is expected to send written assurances in writing to the ratification of the election law,” 11/26/09

Alsumaria, “Iraq election law amendment in spotlight,” 11/26/09
- “Iraq leaders seek compromise on election law,” 11/26/09
- “Talabani, Adul Mehdi sign amended poll law,” 11/26/09

Aswat al-Iraq, “Provinces’ seats red line – al Hashemi,” 11/26/09
- “Talabani, Shiite VP sign amended election law,” 11/25/09

Al Forat TV, “We have reached a settlement with Hashemite about not canceling of election law again,” 11/26/09

Myers, Steven Lee, “Iraqi Lawmakers Hunt for Election Compromise,” New York Times, 11/26/09

Shadid, Anthony and Bakri, Nada, “Iraqis reach tentative agreement on elections law,” Washington Post, 11/26/09

Wasat, “Hashemi will not invalidate the law of the last elections,” 11/26/09