Kurdistan Parliament opens regular sessions
Transparency Committee forms to investigate corruption
The Kurdish Globe
September 12, 2009
Read Online
Parliament increases the number of committees after one session, with the Transparency Committee devoted to fighting alleged corruption in the regional government.
The newly elected Kurdistan Parliament voted to form a Transparency Committee as one of the parliamentary structures during its regular sessions that began on Tuesday. The early sessions witnessed the appearance of the majority and minority blocs in the discussion held on amending the internal system of Parliament.
Members of Goran list, who occupy 25 of Parliament’s 111 seats, and the Reform and Service list, with 13 seats, proposed a project to amend Parliament’s internal system. The project was rejected when the majority, which involves the Kurdistani List with 59 members, proposed another project to amend the structure of the parliamentary committees only. Parliament adapted the Kurdistani’s proposal in a vote on the two projects.
The formation of the Transparency Committee came within an increase in Parliament committees from 14 to 18. The other new committees include Youths and Sport, Civil Society, and Consumer Protection.
In a statement after the Tuesday session, Parliament speaker Kamal Kirkuki called for an active role for the Transparency Committee so it can investigate alleged administrative corruption in government establishments.
Shirwan Haidari, a member of the Kurdistani List, declared that Parliament is presently in discussions about formation of other committees whose functions and members will be identified at a later date.
About the Transparency Committee, he stated, “Because of the formation of this committee, the government will be asked to issue a decree according to which high-level government officials must declare their wealth in order to show transparency.”
Adnan Osman from the Goran list called for establishing an independent Transparency board in the region instead of a parliamentary one. “It is more important to have a Transparency Board in Kurdistan and also to be an independent judicial board or to open a branch of the Iraqi Transparency in Kurdistan,” he said.
During the session, Parliament agreed on the resignation of Kurdistani list leader Barham Salih, since he will dedicate his time to forming the Kurdistan Region Government’s sixth Cabinet.
Members voted on keeping committees of Legal Affairs, Finance and Economic Affairs, Internal and Security, Agriculture and Irrigation, Women’s Affairs, Higher Studies and Scientific Research, Reconstruction and Housing, Religious Affairs, and Human Rights. The Health and Social Affairs Committee was split up to be the Health and Environment Affairs Committee and the Social Affairs, Children and Family Committee. The term “Tourism” was added to the Relations, Culture and Media Committee. The Peshmarga Affairs Committee was changed to Peshmarga, Martyrs and Genocide Victims. Meanwhile, Parliament continues to discuss and approve other committees.
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