In an encouraging move, the Iraq National Assembly reversed course from a previous change that would have made it virtually impossible to reject the constitution. The U.S. and U.N. backed the Sunni's cries of foul. Now at least, the vote will go ahead as planned, under the rules that have been established:
The parliamentary about-face followed a storm of protest over its decision three days ago to define the word "voters" two ways in the same sentence -- in effect making it virtually impossible for Iraqis to reject the constitution.
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On Wednesday, and under pressure from the U.N. and the United States, parliament decided to row back.
"A resolution was passed that the word 'voters' ... was (to mean) voters who are registered in the voter lists and who exercise that right, i.e. that they vote in the referendum," deputy speaker Hussain al-Shahristani told reporters.
"They have reversed their decision as we had hoped they would," Said Arikat, a U.N. spokesman in Baghdad, said.
On Sunday, parliament voted to define the rules for the referendum, saying that for it to be defeated, two thirds of registered voters -- rather than two in three who cast a ballot -- in three of Iraq's 18 provinces would have to say "No."
For the simple national majority required to ratify the constitution, however, the 50 percent hurdle would be crossed as a proportion of those who actually voted, not those registered.
"What happened on Sunday was a big mistake," Sunni member of parliament Said al-Zubaidi said. "It was an act of foolishness against democracy. What happened today is only natural."
This is good development as the credibility of the democratic process would have been severely damaged. If the constitution is rejected, there is another day and another vote. Right now it is important that those Sunni MPs who are working through the system not be made to look like fools to their constituents and further inflaming the civil battles now going on in the country.
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