IHEC: MPs Convicted by Courts Will Lose Parliamentary Membership

PUKMEDIA

Iraqi Parliament.

A spokesperson for Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has confirmed that any member of parliament convicted by a court will lose their parliamentary membership if the ruling affects their eligibility.

IHEC spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai told PUKMEDIA that a parliamentarian loses membership if they are convicted by a court or no longer meet the legal requirements for serving as an MP.

She explained that the electoral law sets out the procedure for replacing MPs whose membership has been revoked. The replacement must come from the same electoral list and will be the first reserve candidate based on the number of votes received.

Al-Ghalai added that if the Council of Representatives formally requests a replacement, the IHEC will nominate the successor in accordance with the law and officially notify parliament of the new member.

Al-Ghalai’s remarks came after Iraq’s Federal Integrity Commission announced on Sunday that former MP Talal al-Zubaie and Deputy Minister of Oil for Distribution Affairs Ali al-Bahadli had each been sentenced to seven years in prison for money laundering and illicit enrichment.

Iraq launched an aggressive, high-profile anti-corruption campaign dubbed Operation Dawn (Sawlat Al-Fajr) under Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. The sweeping drive has targeted senior government officials, lawmakers, and business figures, resulting in the recovery of over $300 million in hidden cash and hundreds of kilograms of gold.

Iraqi authorities have recovered over 295 billion Iraqi dinars, $44.9 million and 484 kilograms of gold in connection with the corruption investigation involving Adnan al-Jumaili. Authorities have also seized commercial properties, flour mills, transport trucks, vehicles and other assets linked to the case.

The latest seizure is part of one of Iraq’s largest corruption investigations in recent years. Al-Jumaili previously served as the Oil Ministry’s undersecretary for refining affairs and as general manager of the North Refineries Company, which oversees the Baiji refinery. He was removed as head of the North Refineries Company in late May and replaced by Qusay Khalaf.



PUKMEDIA