“News Tidbits From TNT” Friday 3-27-2026
TNT:
Tishwash: A parliamentary source told Al-Furat News: Signatures are being collected to hold a session next Monday and end the presidential election crisis.
A parliamentary source revealed today, Thursday, a movement to end the political deadlock and collect signatures to hold a session of the House of Representatives next Monday to elect the President of the Republic.
A source told Al-Furat News Agency that "parliamentary efforts are underway to break the deadlock, with a parliamentary session scheduled for Monday to elect the president."
The source also revealed that "signatures have been collected from members of parliament to convene Monday's session and resolve the presidential issue," noting that "more than 160 signatures have been gathered to hold the session next Monday to elect the president."
It is worth noting that Iraq has been in a constitutional vacuum since January 29, 2016, after the parliament failed to vote on a president and postponed the parliamentary session designated for this purpose multiple times due to political disputes between parties and competition for key positions.
Currently, the competition for the presidency is between the two major Kurdish parties that govern the Kurdistan Region: the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
The Iraqi constitution stipulates a clear timeframe for electing the president, requiring that the election take place within 30 days of the first session of the new parliament, with the incumbent president continuing to perform his duties until a new president is elected.
With parliament's failure to elect a president, Iraq has entered a constitutional vacuum, potentially leading to problems regarding the powers of outgoing officials, as well as delays in completing projects and managing the country's daily affairs.
Parliament has not scheduled a new session to vote on the presidential election, and the legislative authority has offered no comment or justification for this, except for remarks suggesting that the 30-day period stipulated by the constitution refers to official working days and excludes holidays—an interpretation lacking any basis in the constitution or parliament's internal regulations. link
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Tishwash: Calls for the enactment of the oil and gas law within a constitutional framework
The passage of the oil and gas law is a pivotal step towards regulating the management of national wealth in Iraq and ensuring a fair distribution of revenues between the federal government and the regions, while preserving the sovereignty of the state and the rights of all Iraqis.
Members of the House of Representatives and legal experts stress the need to establish a robust constitutional framework that ends disputes, enhances transparency, and keeps pace with modern developments in the energy industry, while protecting national resources from waste and mismanagement, thus paving the way for a new phase of wise oil and gas management and promoting national and international investment in this vital sector.
It is worth noting that the House of Representatives, during its session that discussed the repercussions of exporting Iraqi oil, recommended that the next government program should include the enactment of the oil and gas law, and that it should be presented to the House of Representatives in order to begin voting on it.
MP Ahmed Shaheed told Al-Sabah that passing the oil and gas law represents a fundamental step to regulate the management of national wealth between the federal government and the regions, ensuring a fair distribution of revenues and preserving the sovereignty of the state and the rights of all Iraqis.
Shahid called for the swift enactment of the law to provide a fair constitutional framework for Iraqis and to end disputes related to the management of oil wealth, especially between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region.
He added that "the current stage requires a thorough study of the law's articles and their revision to keep pace with modern changes in the energy industry and global developments in natural resource management, along with a review of oil contracts and agreements to ensure their consistency with the Iraqi constitution and to safeguard national sovereignty over natural resources." The MP emphasized that "updating the law's provisions must include clear mechanisms for managing oil fields, regulating contracts with international companies, and guaranteeing transparency in revenues, thereby putting an end to the leakage of wealth and the waste of resources, and establishing a new era of sound oil and gas management in Iraq."
For his part, MP Ali Saber told Al-Sabah that “addressing the oil and gas issue in Iraq should not be limited to enacting a law only, but requires an integrated legislative and economic vision that reorganizes the philosophy of managing national wealth in a manner consistent with the constitution and the requirements of modern development.”
He explained that "the current stage calls for a comprehensive review of the legal system regulating the oil sector, through the preparation of specialized parliamentary studies that examine the mechanisms of investment, production and export, in addition to setting clear rules for managing oil revenues in a way that achieves a balance between the federal government and the producing regions and governorates."
Saber pointed out that "updating the legal framework for the oil sector must take into account global shifts in energy markets and adopt the principles of governance and transparency, while developing parliamentary oversight mechanisms to ensure the sound management of natural resources and prevent any waste or misuse of oil wealth." He added that "developing the oil investment environment is a fundamental factor in strengthening the national economy, as a clear and stable legal framework encourages international companies to expand their investments in oil fields, gas projects, and energy infrastructure. This will positively impact increased production, job creation, and diversification of income sources, thus supporting the long-term stability of the Iraqi economy."
For her part, Dr. Zainab Al-Saadi, a legal expert specializing in constitutional affairs, confirmed in a statement to Al-Sabah that Article 112/First of the Constitution constitutes an explicit legal and constitutional obligation on the federal government, regulating the relationship with the oil-producing regions and governorates.
She explained that "this article gives legal texts binding force to protect the rights of oil-producing entities and ensure a fair distribution of resources, which makes any new agreements unnecessary, whether through temporary budget laws that end with the end of the fiscal year or through political understandings that are not based on a clear constitutional basis."
Al-Saadi added that “adherence to this constitutional framework reinforces the principle of the rule of law and limits any transgressions that may occur as a result of non-binding political understandings or agreements,” stressing that “the constitution has established clear mechanisms to ensure the stability of the relationship between the federal government and the oil-producing regions and governorates, in a way that preserves everyone’s rights and ensures the management of national resources according to sound legal frameworks.”
She noted that "the application of these constitutional provisions represents the cornerstone of any future policies related to oil and resources and prevents legal vacuums or illegal practices that could lead to disputes between the central government and the regions." link
Tishwash: The most serious threat in eight decades: The World Trade Organization warns of disruptions to the trading system.
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, warned of unprecedented disruptions to the global trading system, describing the current phase as the most dangerous in eight decades, as the organization's ministerial conference opened on Thursday.
IIwiala stressed that the multilateral world order has undergone radical and irreversible transformations, noting that the scale of current challenges now exceeds what the world has witnessed in previous periods, in light of escalating international crises.
This warning comes at a time when the 166 member states are facing clear divisions, coinciding with a meeting of trade ministers in the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé, as part of one of the organization's most prominent conferences, amid economic repercussions related to tensions in the Middle East.
During the four-day conference, members seek to revitalize the role of the organization, whose effectiveness has declined due to geopolitical tensions, stalled negotiations, and escalating protectionist policies, in an unstable international environment.
AIwiala pointed out that the current turmoil began before the recent conflicts and has contributed to the disruption of energy, fertilizer and food markets, stressing that governments and international institutions are facing increasing challenges in dealing with geopolitical tensions, the repercussions of climate change and rapid technological development.
She added that these transformations are accompanied by a growing sense of doubt about the effectiveness of the multilateral system, considering that what is happening reflects a deeper flaw in the international system that was established after the Second World War.
She concluded by saying that holding the conference in Africa comes at a very sensitive time, in light of simultaneous crises in the Middle East, Sudan and Ukraine, stressing that the African continent represents the "continent of the future". link
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Tishwash: Trump to Visit Beijing May 14–15 for Rescheduled Summit with President Xi Jinping
Trump says his meeting with China’s president will take place May 14–15 in Beijing after being delayed due to US military operations in Iran.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump has announced a new date for his postponed meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, signaling a renewed diplomatic engagement following delays linked to military developments.
Trump said that his meeting with Xi Jinping, President of China, has been rescheduled after it was previously postponed due to US military operations in Iran.
The meeting is now set to take place in Beijing on May 14 and 15.
In a statement published on his official account on the social media platform Truth, Trump said: “My meeting with the Highly Respected President of China, President Xi Jinping, which was originally postponed due to our Military operation in Iran, has been rescheduled, and will take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th.”
He added: “First Lady Melania and I will also host President Xi and Madame Peng for a reciprocal visit in Washington, D.C., at a later date, this year.”
Trump continued: “Our Representatives are finalizing preparations for these Historic Visits. I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a Monumental Event.”
The announcement indicates that preparations are underway for both the Beijing meeting and a subsequent reciprocal visit to Washington later in the year.
The rescheduled meeting marks a continuation of high-level engagement between Washington and Beijing following delays tied to military developments. link