Legislative elections scheduled on May 12

On Monday, AlSumaria News quoted a parliamentary source saying that “The House of Representatives ratified a decision that set May 12, 2018 as date for holding the legislative elections. The decision was taken in consensus”. Earlier on the day, the parliament held a session, presided over by Salim al-Jubouri, in attendance of 171 MPs to tackle the measures related to elections. On Sunday, the parliament said holding the legislative elections of the chamber has become obligatory after the federal court decreed holding the elections on the scheduled time. After the chamber failed to reach a consensus over the schedule of polls, the parliament approached the court to settle a political dispute over the holding of legislative elections. Parliament speaker Salim al-Jubouri ordered a secret poll among representatives over holding the legislative elections on time while postponing local elections: Sunni blocs preferred to postpone elections to give time to displaced voters to return to their home regions after the end of military operations against Islamic State militants. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Shia parties have opposed postponement.