Iraq apex court orders parliament to reconvene

BAGHDAD - Iraq’s Supreme Court Sunday ordered the country’s parliament to reconvene, after nearly eight months of political stalemate following inconclusive elections in March.

No precise date was set for the new session, however.

Since the March 7 general elections, the new-elected parliament has held only one session, in mid-June, which lasted just 20 minutes.

A spokesman for the Supreme Judicial Council said that the court found that the absence of such authority indicates an imbalance in system of the country and described the absence of the lawmakers as “unconstitutional”.

He added that the court ordered the parliament to convene and elect a Speaker in their coming session to replace Fouad Maasoum, who heads the parliament currently by dint of being the oldest member.

The ruling came on a suit brought to court by civil society organisation against Maasoum.

According to the constitution, lawmakers should elect a parliament speaker and his two deputies, then choose a president for the country, who will them appoint a prime minister.