High judicial call to amend constitution texts and address application problems

Head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zidan, emphasized on Thursday that respecting the constitution requires addressing flaws and updating some of its texts, pointing out that parliament faces a national and historical responsibility to review the constitution and make necessary amendments. Judge Zidan stated on the 21st anniversary of the referendum on the permanent Iraqi constitution in 2005 that this occasion commemorates great sacrifices, expressing appreciation to the supreme religious authority, the Iraqi people, and the international community for their support during that critical transitional phase. He added that respecting the constitution requires fixing defects after two decades, especially since practical experience revealed interpretation issues that hindered constitutional entitlements, most notably parliamentary majorities, electing the president, and determining the largest parliamentary bloc. He stressed that parliament today holds a historical responsibility to review these provisions and implement required amendments according to established mechanisms and public will, while modernizing legislation to match state requirements, strengthen state sovereignty and institutions, and safeguard societal rights within the desired pluralistic democratic system.