Iraqi Parliament Discusses Four Draft Laws in Latest Session

Iraqi parliament’s media office

Iraqi parliament’s hall.

The Iraqi parliament concluded its tenth session of the second legislative term of the first legislative year of the sixth electoral cycle on Thursday, 13 August 2026, chaired by Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi, after considering and discussing four draft laws.

According to a statement from the Parliament’s Media Office, MPs voted at the start of the session to remove the draft law on recovering the proceeds of corruption from the agenda for its first reading, following a request from the Legal Committee. The decision was taken because a similar draft law had been submitted by the Presidency of the Republic.

Rebwar Orhman Salih was sworn in as a member of parliament, replacing Srwa Abdulwahid, who was appointed Minister of Environment.

Parliament also postponed consideration of appeals concerning the validity of the membership of a number of MPs due to the absence of the required two-thirds quorum.

MPs completed the first reading of a draft law approving the Air Transport Agreement between the Government of Iraq and the Austrian Federal Government. Submitted by the Foreign Relations Committee, the agreement seeks to regulate international air services between the two countries safely and efficiently, strengthen international cooperation and develop scheduled air transport services between Iraq and Austria and beyond their territories. Both countries are parties to the 1994 Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the Chicago Convention.

Parliament also completed the first reading of a draft fourth amendment to Law No. 52 of 1970 on the authentication of signatures on Iraqi and foreign documents. Submitted by the Finance Committee and the Committee on Economy, Industry and Trade, the proposed amendment would extend the law to commercial documents accompanying goods exported to Iraq, determine the authority responsible for granting exemptions, and revise document authentication fees in line with economic developments and to facilitate trade with other countries.

MPs then considered and discussed a report on a proposed first amendment to Law No. 78 of 1980 concerning the care of minors, submitted by the Legal Committee.

During the discussion, MPs called for investment of minors’ funds to cease once they reach adulthood. They also called for compensation for minors whose funds were deposited between 1990 and 2003, including compensation for differences in currency value, with the value of the funds to be calculated according to their gold value when the beneficiaries reach adulthood.

MPs stressed the need to address the psychological and social needs of minors after reaching adulthood, as well as to verify the institutions responsible for investing their funds and assess their financial capabilities.

They also proposed establishing a dedicated fund to support minors, with priority given to education, healthcare and welfare; automating the minors’ care registry; restructuring the Department of Minors’ Care; and strengthening safeguards for minors’ funds. They further called for legislation facilitating donations made on behalf of minors.

The session, partly chaired by First Deputy Speaker Adnan Faihan, continued with the reading and discussion of a report on the proposed first amendment to Notaries Public Law No. 33 of 1998, submitted by the Legal Committee.

MPs called for the definitions governing eligibility for the position of notary public to be reviewed and for the work of translation departments to be regulated by ensuring that translators are legally recognised. They also proposed increasing allowances for notary public employees through a percentage of collected service fees and introducing electronic archiving in notaries’ offices.

During the part of the session chaired by Vice President Dr Farhad al-Atroushi, MPs also called for a defined time limit for the validity of public and private powers of attorney, as well as stronger legal protection for notaries public.

During the general discussions, several MPs called for improved public services across various sectors and government departments in the provinces, urging effective solutions to outstanding issues.

They also called for the creation of employment opportunities for graduates through the deletion and creation of posts, stronger efforts to combat corruption, and the fulfilment of the rights of martyrs and wounded personnel.


PUKMEDIA