Iraqi parliament to resume sessions in July, vote on cabinet and pending laws

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's parliament will resume its legislative term in July, with a vote on completing the cabinet lineup expected in the second or third week of the month, lawmaker Puha al-Sadhan said. The current recess is set to end next week, with the new session officially opening on July 1. Al-Sadhan said the Council of Representatives presidency is preparing a schedule to restart plenary sessions after the break. More than 100 draft laws are awaiting their first reading, debate, amendment or vote, he added. Pending legislation on the agenda includes the oil and gas law, the Popular Mobilization Forces law, the Federal Supreme Court law, the Federal Civil Service Council law, the retirement law and the salary scale law. First Deputy Speaker Adnan Finjan said earlier that there is activity within the council aimed at advancing the pending legislation, particularly the oil and gas, Popular Mobilization Forces and Federal Civil Service Council laws.