Are there controversial issues that were not resolved in the new draft law?
Al-Jazairi: Yes, there are some contentious issues not yet settled, which were added as options for a parliamentary vote. For example, the [minimum age of candidates] in the current law is 30. Some said that this age limit is too high and proposed the age of 25. Another example is the requirement regarding the [candidate’s] educational level, requiring a university degree. Some said that high school certificate should suffice claiming that efficiency should count as much as education because some people were deprived of the opportunity to finish their university education. Additionally, the issue of electoral districts has yet to be resolved. Will Iraq be considered as one electoral district or will it be divided into different districts. Another issue is the kind of lists to be adopted: an open or closed list system? Compensatory votes are a further issue; what kind of formula should be applicable? Some proposed that these votes should go to the winning lists even if indirectly. Niqas
