Iraqi parliament opens second legislative chapter of sixth electoral term

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Iraqi Council of Representatives convened on Monday for the first session of the second legislative chapter of its sixth electoral term, following the parliamentary recess. Lawmakers are set to address a wide range of bills covering security, judicial and social matters. The agenda includes a first reading of a draft law on cybercrime and information technology offenses, submitted by the Security and Defense and the Legal committees. Also on the schedule are proposed amendments to the 1980 Law No. 78 on Minors Under Guardianship and the 1965 Law No. 173 on the Legal Profession, along with a financing bill presented by the Security and Defense Committee to strengthen the country's air defense systems. Deputy Speaker Adnan Fayhan al-Duleimi said the new legislative phase would prioritize discussions on the performance of ministries and oversight bodies, with anti-corruption efforts and public accountability placed at the top of the agenda. MP Shakir Hassan Lazim al-Muhammadawi described the air defense financing bill as an important step for legislative safeguards, while MP Ali Ihhir al-Sarrai announced that proposed amendments to the 1969 Penal Code No. 111 and the 1971 Code of Criminal Procedure No. 23, as well as regulations targeting unregistered motorcycles, had been submitted to the parliament's presidency.