Iraqi Parliament includes Amnesty Law amendment; Taqaddum Bloc to resume sessions, 20 JAN

 Iraqi Parliament includes Amnesty Law amendment; Taqaddum Bloc to resume sessions

Shafaq News/ The Iraqi Parliament has included the draft amendment to the General Amnesty Law in the agenda for Tuesday's session, Iraqi MP Nayef al-Shammari announced on Sunday. 

Following the Parliament's decision, MP Jamil Abed Sabbak of the Progress Party (Taqaddum) confirmed to Shafaq News Agency that the bloc decided to resume participation in parliamentary sessions after receiving assurances from other political blocs that the Amnesty Law would be included in upcoming sessions.

"Introducing and voting on the Amnesty Law is a crucial step in fulfilling our commitments to the people, particularly in delivering justice to those wronged by unjust judicial decisions or legal violations," Abed Sabbak explained. "However, our stance is clear: we advocate for justice for the innocent, not for those with blood on their hands."

The MP further affirmed, "The Taqaddum bloc views this law as an opportunity to promote fairness, provided it is applied cautiously to ensure that those responsible for serious crimes or acts of violence are not granted impunity."

"Our goal is to offer hope to those affected and strike a balance between justice and social reconciliation."

On January 13th, the Taqaddum bloc decided to boycott Parliament sessions due to the exclusion of the Amnesty Law amendment and non-compliance with political agreements, confirming it would “continue the boycott until the law is added to the agenda.”

The Iraqi Parliament completed the second reading of the Amnesty Law amendment on September 16, 2024. 

About the Law

Sunni parliamentary and political forces continue to press for the passage of the General Amnesty Law, a proposal that has met opposition from Shiite factions due to concerns over the potential release of detainees linked to terrorism charges. Since the formation of PM Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s government, this law’s fate remains uncertain. Despite an agreement to enact it, observers point to a lack of political will, particularly within the Shiite Coordination Framework (CF), which is believed to be delaying the law’s progress and backtracking on prior commitments made to Sunni forces to secure their support for the new government.

Sunni blocs conditioned the passage of this law during negotiations to form the State Administration Coalition, which included the CF, and Kurdish and Sunni blocs, leading to Al-Sudani's government. Sunni MPs maintain that the government’s program includes enacting the Amnesty Law, canceling security checks in their provinces, and addressing the suspension or abolition of certain entities that have contributed to significant tensions.

TIDBIT FROM BRUCE, 20 JAN

 Bruce 

 [via WiserNow]

  I got a text...it said that the dinar, the Iraqi dinar, which is the linchpin of all of the currencies that are going up in value, ...was on the Forex...

[Thursday] morning at 4.19 and since that time, it increased up on the forex to 4.52...and it's probably still going up...  

it doesn't mean our rate is going to be there, or even the bank rate is going to be there. It could be higher, and I know it is higher now than that, even at the banks. 

FIREFLY: Forex would be international and like you want, the float!! @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinar

 

Parliamentary Finance votes on the proposed amendment of paragraph 12 of the budget law, 19 JAN

 Parliamentary Finance votes on the proposed amendment of paragraph 12 of the budget law

The Finance Committee announced on Sunday the vote on the proposed amendment of paragraph 12 of the Federal Budget Law, as stated by the government.

The committee announced earlier today, near the vote on the amendment of Article 12 of the budget related to Kurdistan Region oil, while referring to the most prominent proposals submitted to amend this paragraph.

The head of the committee, Atwan Al-Attwani, said in a speech during a meeting of the committee, according to a statement received by {Al-Furat News} that “the meetings of the committee continue to discuss the amendment of Article 12 of the budget law on Kurdistan Region oil,” noting that “the committee has reached the final stages of completing hosting, and stating many information in preparation for voting on the amendment on this day.”

He added that “it is necessary for there to be a decision from the committee to raise the draft law to a vote,” expressing his hope that “the vote will be agreed on this complementary draft of the 2023 budget.”

He pointed out that “there are a number of committee members who put forward a lot of paragraphs and submitted proposals, and we will put them forward for everyone to be aware of them, but it cannot be added considering that the draft is an amendment and not budget tables,” noting that “the opinion of the committee from the beginning is to proceed with the amendment of the law, but we do not want the items and amendments to be unproductive amendments like previous ones.”

He explained that “the committee added to the paragraphs of the amendment to oblige the parties, whether the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Oil Resources, to comply with the outputs of the consulting company,” stressing that “there must be an obligation for both parties.”

Al-Atwani concluded by saying, “The consulting company must have a period of work that may end in 2025, and has not achieved results,” stressing that “we are keen to apply the results during this year to be the rule for 2026.”

https://alforatnews.iq/news/المالية-النيابية-تصوت-على-مقترح-تعديل-الفقرة-12-من-قانون-الموازنة

TIDBIT FROM JEFF, 19 JAN

 Jeff  

 Question:  "How long IYO will we have to exchange our 3-zero notes before they are rendered non-negotiable?" 

 Jeff:  ...When they phased out the old Saddam Swiss notes and put the new notes into circulation everybody had 90 days to turn in their old Saddam notes and get the new ones.  They used to have a 50 note up until 2012.  They phased out 50 note and replaced it with the 50,000 note.

 When everybody had to turn in their old 50 note they had 90 days as well.  My opinion is that we're all going to have 90 days to turn in our notes because that's how long they had historically from two different scenarios to turn them in.

MARKZ: CMKX & OMEGA INTEL @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinar #iraqidinarinvestor

 

Iraq calls on the world to conduct a comprehensive reform of the financial system and a dialogue on technology governance, 19 JAN

  Iraq calls on the world to conduct a comprehensive reform of the financial system and a dialogue on technology governance

The representative of Iraq to the United Nations in New York, Abbas Kazim Obaid, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of 77 and China, delivered the group’s statement during the session of the United Nations General Assembly in which the Secretary-General reviewed the priorities of his term for the year 2025, in light of the circumstances and challenges facing the international community.

In his statement, the representative of Iraq stressed the complex and interconnected global challenges, including ongoing conflicts, the effects of climate change, poverty, hunger, high debt levels, limited financing for the Sustainable Development Goals, and the growing digital divide. He stressed the need to support developing countries in financing sustainable development through the Fourth Conference on Financing for Development.

He called for a comprehensive reform of the global financial system to address structural inequalities, ensure equitable access to long-term finance, and advance sustainable development efforts.

He also stressed the importance of fully implementing the decisions of the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change, while supporting the Secretary-General’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Obaid also called for a comprehensive international governmental process to address the digital divide, the establishment of an independent scientific team for artificial intelligence, and the launch of a global dialogue on technology governance. link