At a Glance

• Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court is set to hear three lawsuits concerning the Kurdistan Regional Government and Parliament.
• The cases seek to limit the KRG’s authority and designate the cabinet as a caretaker government.
• The lawsuits also challenge the Kurdistan Parliament’s continued mandate after nearly two years of inactivity.
• Strategic contracts in oil, gas, electricity, and natural resources are among the issues raised.

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Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court is set to hear three lawsuits concerning the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kurdistan Parliament, including cases challenging the cabinet’s legal mandate and authority over strategic decisions.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• KRG cabinet: One lawsuit filed by New Generation MP Rebwar Awrahman against KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani seeks to challenge decisions taken after the ninth cabinet’s legal term expired on July 10, 2023.
• Parliament: Ali Hama Saleh has filed a lawsuit against the interim speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament, seeking a ruling that the legislature’s continued tenure is unconstitutional due to its prolonged suspension of sessions.
• Caretaker status: A second lawsuit filed by Saleh against Masrour Barzani seeks to formally designate the KRG as a daily caretaker government following the expiration of the cabinet’s legal term.

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The MP Awrahman case also seeks restrictions on the government’s authority to sign strategic contracts involving oil, gas, electricity, and natural resources. The lawsuit calls for the cabinet to limit its activities to day-to-day administration until a new government is formed.

The Federal Supreme Court’s session comes amid an extended political deadlock over the formation of a new KRG cabinet and the reactivation of the Kurdistan Parliament.

The KRG has remained without a new cabinet amid continued political disagreements, while calls have been made to reactivate Parliament and end the political stalemate.

If the court accepts the claims, the lawsuits could affect the scope of the KRG’s authority over strategic decisions and the legal status of the Kurdistan Parliament.

FYI

The ninth KRG cabinet’s legal term is cited in the lawsuit as having expired on July 10, 2023. The Federal Supreme Court is scheduled to examine the case concerning the cabinet’s term on September 20.

The cases come as Kurdish political parties continue efforts to form a new cabinet and address the prolonged parliamentary and governmental deadlock.

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