ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two influential Shiite factions in the Iraqi parliament, the State of Law Coalition and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, boycotted Saturday’s parliamentary session in protest of the exclusion of the contentious Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law from the agenda, forcing the session’s postponement.
Saturday’s session was postponed “due to the lack of quorum,” state media reported. The session’s agenda included six items, but the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law was not among them.
“We are waiting to see how serious the parliament presidency and the government are about including the [PMF] law in the sessions,” Jassim al-Alawi, an MP from the State of Law Coalition, told Rudaw, adding that if they are assured it will be on the agenda, “the sessions can continue.”
The State of Law Coalition, led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, led by Qais al-Khazali, are two of the most influential Shiite political parties in Iraq, both maintaining strong ties to Iran and advocating for the institutionalization of the PMF. The law in question aims to regulate the PMF’s structure, salaries, and retirement policies, a matter of particular concern for both parties as their political and military influence is closely tied to the PMF’s role in Iraq’s security framework.
“There is a clear stance from the State of Law Coalition and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq: the PMF law must be included in upcoming parliamentary sessions, or we will boycott them as agreed,” Alawi said.
Aqil al-Fatlawi, spokesperson for the State of Law Coalition, echoed Alawi’s stance. “The State of Law bloc remains firm in its stance, refusing to attend parliamentary sessions that do not include the [PMF] law on the agenda," he said on X.
The PMF is composed of various armed factions, some of which have close ties to Iran, making it a significant force in Iraq’s security and political landscape.
In 2024, the government proposed amendments to the law, setting minimum and maximum salary limits for PMF personnel and defining the legal retirement age. Parliament failed to reach a consensus on the amendments during its session on February 4 and the bill was subsequently removed from Saturday’s agenda.
“Many are exploiting the instability faced by PMF members due to the lack of a legal framework that protects them from manipulation,” Alawi noted. He claimed that some PMF leaders have started using the force for electoral and political purposes, stressing that “the PMF should be treated like other security institutions, with a clear legal structure ensuring its future.”
He pointed out that parliament has many important issues on its agenda that will be affected by their boycott.
“Some important laws must be passed during this phase, particularly regarding amendments to the electoral law, which is a crucial issue at this time,” he said.
“This is our demand, and we are determined to pass the PMF law during this period. Most political forces support the PMF, except for a few who prefer the current state of disorder, which ultimately harms the rights of an essential segment of Iraq’s security forces,” he said.
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