BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri suddenly announced July 17 the formation of a parliamentary committee tasked with amending the country's constitution. While this is not the first time that calls have been made to amend the Iraqi Constitution, no serious steps had been taken.
Although Article 142 of the constitution defines the mechanisms and methods for amending the constitution, differences have prevented the parliament's political blocs from doing so. They have not managed to reach the consensus required to hold a referendum on amendments to the constitution.