Baghdad: MPs have announced the collection of signatures and the submission of an official request to the Parliament Presidency to reject the list of ambassadorial candidates recently approved by the Council of Ministers and return it to the government.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, MP Amir Al-Maamouri stated in a joint press conference that Article 50 of the Iraqi Constitution and Article 6 of the Iraqi Parliament’s internal regulations require the protection of the interests of the people and the implementation of legislation with integrity and impartiality. This pertains to decisions regarding the approval or non-voting on the appointment of ambassadorial candidates, as well as the Council of Ministers’ recommendations to remove the list.

Al-Maamouri elaborated that Article 61/V/B of the Iraqi Constitution empowers the House of Representatives to approve the appointment of ambassadors and holders of special ranks upon the proposal of the Council of Ministers. Additionally, Article 44 of the House of Representatives Law No. 13 of 2018 guides this process. Based on these articles, the House of Representatives is committed to several actions.

First, MPs must be informed of the details of the Cabinet’s decision in its 29th session held on July 23, 2025, regarding the list of ambassadors, along with the opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Legal Department of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers.

Second, MPs should be provided with the curriculum vitae of each ambassadorial candidate. These vitae must be in a standardized format prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee, enabling representatives to assess each candidate’s competence and eligibility.

Third, relevant parliamentary committees are tasked with evaluating candidates’ qualifications. The Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee will assess whether a candidate’s record is free of restrictions and criminal history. The Parliamentary Community Reconciliation Committee will determine if candidates are subject to accountability and justice procedures. The Parliamentary Integrity Committee will check for any financial or administrative corruption cases involving the candidates. The Higher Education and Scientific Research Committee will verify the validity of the candidates’ academic qualifications.

Al-Maamouri cautioned against voting on the ambassadorial list as a single block for all candidates, advocating instead for individual assessments. He highlighted concerns about candidates on the list, including those subject to accountability and justice procedures, members of the Ba’ath Party, individuals born in 1990, and forgers aged 59 who are close to retirement. Additionally, some candidates are reportedly related to politicians, ministers, and former representatives.