Eighty-one MPs vote to end interpellation of KRG PM, Deputy PM and Finance Minister, reject call for motion of no confidence
The Kurdistan Parliament on 27 October sat for first readings of two bills on water, and MPs in the opposition further questioned in absentia the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister on cuts to government employees’ salaries. The opposition MPs’ bid to move to a motion of no confidence was rejected, with 81 of 91 present MPs voting that they were convinced by the Government’s answers and to end the questioning.
Twenty-three MPs from opposition parties requested an interpellation debate, per articles 68 and 69 of Parliament’s procedures. An interpellation is a request that the Prime Minister or cabinet members state reasons that justify decisions or actions.
KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and Minister of Finance and Economy Awat Sheikh Janab replied in writing to the interpellation, and their replies were read out in the plenary by Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami. Their response was that they had already recently attended Parliament, on 5 October, to present the current situation, answer many questions and gave MPs a written report, including an explanation for the 18% and 21% cuts to government salaries.
Abdulsatar Majeed (KIG) and Kazim Faruq Namiq (New Generation), who were among the MPs that requested the interpellation, spoke at length. MPs in the opposition parties said that they were not satisfied with the Government’s answers, and wanted another questioning followed by a motion of no confidence. However 81 of the 91 present MPs were convinced by the Government’s answers and voted to end the questioning.
Speaker Faiq said “After hearing these questions, the government’s answers and MPs’ views, per Article 73 (paragraph 4) and Article 74 (paragraph 2) of Parliament’s Internal Rules of Procedure MPs’ approval is needed to move to a motion of no confidence in the ninth cabinet”, and she asked MPs to vote on whether to end the interpellation or move to a motion of no confidence.
MPs also held the first reading of the Bill on Conservation of Water Resources, Networks and Waste Water Drainage in Kurdistan Region, which at its current stage has 25 articles and its main purpose is to ensure the provision of clean drinking water and to protect water infrastructure and networks from destruction and misuse, so that water is available to all citizens as a basic right without discrimination.
Speaker Rewaz Faiq directed the Legislative Committee and other relevant committees to work on the bill in order to prepare it for its second reading (the detailed discussion of all articles of the bill) at another sitting.
MPs also held the first reading of the Bill on Water Conservation and Management in Kurdistan Region, which has the purpose of provision of clean water, prevention of misuse, and fair distribution.
All of the bills were proposed by MPs, for which a minimum of 10 is required.
New MP for the Kurdistan Islamic Group (KIG) Omar Abdullah Fattah, replacing Soran Omar who recently resigned, was nominated for membership of the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee. He received 74 votes approving his membership of the committee.
Watch the video of the sitting:
