Legislative chaos: Supreme Court challenge looms over controversial voting procedure

Parliament's session on Tuesday to pass three controversial bills ended in chaos and allegations of procedural violations, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the approved laws. Several lawmakers have already pledged to take the matter to the Supreme Court.

The bills addressed amendments to the contentious Personal Status Law backed by Shia blocs, the General Amnesty Law sought by Sunni factions, and the return of land confiscated under the Baath regime to its original Kurdish and Turkmen owners.

Approval of the three bills was intended to be a package deal that would satisfy the legislative demands of multiple groups. Prolonged discussions and repeated delays had frustrated efforts to reach a consensus. However, legislators eventually agreed to pass all three bills in a single session, ending months of deadlock.

The manner in which the voting process unfolded, however, left many MPs accusing Speaker Mashhadani of violating parliamentary procedure, with some petitioning for his resignation. In an unprecedented move, Mashhadani called on MPs to approve the three bills together in a single vote before declaring that they had all been approved. The session’s conclusion was marked by protests, with some members climbing onto the parliamentary podium and others loudly objecting to the proceedings.