BAGHDAD -- Iraq's general election was thrown into doubt on Wednesday, November 18, after Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi vetoed the law governing the January vote. "I did not veto the whole law. I have vetoed the first article of the law and I think parliament will understand my stance," Hashemi told a news conference.
"My suggested amendment is to give justice to all Iraqis living abroad, not just Iraqis displaced in neighboring countries."
Hashemi is objecting to the number of seats for refugees who fled after Iraq descended into deadly violence following the 2003 US-led invasion.
The electoral law allocates five percent of the 323 seats in the next parliament to minorities, such as Christians, and to Iraqis displaced from their homes.
But it does not spell out how the two million Iraqi refugees estimated to be living abroad will be represented.
Hashemi wants 15 percent of parliamentary seats for minorities and Iraqis displaced internally and abroad.
"The modification aims to make the representation of Iraqis abroad fairer," said Hashemi.
"It's not only a matter of those displaced to neighboring countries but of all Iraqis of all confessions and religions who live abroad."
President Jalal Talabani said on Monday he wants parliament to revise the law so that the number of seats set aside for minorities and expatriates is tripled.
Talabani made the request to parliament after receiving a letter from Kurdish MPs asking him not to approve the electoral law.
Under the constitution, any member of the presidential council can veto a proposed law a maximum of two times before the bill is returned to parliament for approval by a vote of at least 60 percent of MPs.
Dark Tunnel
Hashemi insists his objections should not delay the poll.
He believes the issue could be resolved in a single session of parliament and that electoral authorities should continue preparing without any expectation of a delay in the poll date.
But the move is likely open the door to a fresh round of political debate over the legislation that only won parliamentary approval after protracted wrangling.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a Shiite, rebuked Hashemi and said his move was "a serious threat to the democracy and political process" in Iraq.
Haidar al-Ibadi, an influential lawmaker from Maliki's Dawa party, also criticized the veto.
"The election law veto threatens the whole political process and the presidency council's responsibility is to safeguard the constitution -- not to push the country into a dark tunnel," he told state television.
MPs passed the electoral law earlier this month only after several weeks of wrangling over how to conduct the vote in the northern disputed city of Kirkuk.
The Electoral Commission, which had already complained of little time to prepare for the elections, said it had suspended its work.
"The electoral commission is suspending all work, including registration of lists of candidates and printing of voting papers, until the adoption of an electoral law," the commission's administration chief Qassim Abudi said.
"The situation is very difficult and will certainly delay the election."
The vote, only the second national poll since 2003, is viewed as a major milestone as Iraq emerges from 6-1/2 years of bloodshed and stands on its own feet.
Any material delay to the ballot could affect US plans to end combat operations next August, ahead of a full pullout by the end of 2011.
Source: IslamOnline
"My suggested amendment is to give justice to all Iraqis living abroad, not just Iraqis displaced in neighboring countries."
Hashemi is objecting to the number of seats for refugees who fled after Iraq descended into deadly violence following the 2003 US-led invasion.
The electoral law allocates five percent of the 323 seats in the next parliament to minorities, such as Christians, and to Iraqis displaced from their homes.
But it does not spell out how the two million Iraqi refugees estimated to be living abroad will be represented.
Hashemi wants 15 percent of parliamentary seats for minorities and Iraqis displaced internally and abroad.
"The modification aims to make the representation of Iraqis abroad fairer," said Hashemi.
"It's not only a matter of those displaced to neighboring countries but of all Iraqis of all confessions and religions who live abroad."
President Jalal Talabani said on Monday he wants parliament to revise the law so that the number of seats set aside for minorities and expatriates is tripled.
Talabani made the request to parliament after receiving a letter from Kurdish MPs asking him not to approve the electoral law.
Under the constitution, any member of the presidential council can veto a proposed law a maximum of two times before the bill is returned to parliament for approval by a vote of at least 60 percent of MPs.
Dark Tunnel
Hashemi insists his objections should not delay the poll.
He believes the issue could be resolved in a single session of parliament and that electoral authorities should continue preparing without any expectation of a delay in the poll date.
But the move is likely open the door to a fresh round of political debate over the legislation that only won parliamentary approval after protracted wrangling.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a Shiite, rebuked Hashemi and said his move was "a serious threat to the democracy and political process" in Iraq.
Haidar al-Ibadi, an influential lawmaker from Maliki's Dawa party, also criticized the veto.
"The election law veto threatens the whole political process and the presidency council's responsibility is to safeguard the constitution -- not to push the country into a dark tunnel," he told state television.
MPs passed the electoral law earlier this month only after several weeks of wrangling over how to conduct the vote in the northern disputed city of Kirkuk.
The Electoral Commission, which had already complained of little time to prepare for the elections, said it had suspended its work.
"The electoral commission is suspending all work, including registration of lists of candidates and printing of voting papers, until the adoption of an electoral law," the commission's administration chief Qassim Abudi said.
"The situation is very difficult and will certainly delay the election."
The vote, only the second national poll since 2003, is viewed as a major milestone as Iraq emerges from 6-1/2 years of bloodshed and stands on its own feet.
Any material delay to the ballot could affect US plans to end combat operations next August, ahead of a full pullout by the end of 2011.
Source: IslamOnline
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