IRAQI lawmakers passed controversial amendments to the country’s election law today that could undermine the chances for smaller parties and independent candidates to win seats in future polls.

The amendments increase the size of electoral districts, a move widely backed by the Iranian-backed Co-ordination Framework coalition. 

The coalition forms the majority bloc in the current parliament, which brought Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to power last year.

The Bill passed in a 206-12 vote in the 329-seat assembly, according to media reports. 

The amendments also reverse key articles passed ahead of the 2021 federal election and redraw the electoral maps to have Iraq return to one electoral district per each governorate.

Several Iraqi political blocs and independent parliamentarians had rejected the amendments and stalled the vote for weeks. Hundreds of protesters gathered over the past weeks to voice their opposition.

They attempted to stall the vote again overnight by protesting and disturbing the count, before Iraqi security forces escorted them out of the assembly hall.

One of the protesters, Mohamed al-Daami, said: “These amendments will only fortify the rulers in power and their corruption, and exclude independent and new political groups.”

He described the amendments as “unjust.”

The Iraqi government has yet to schedule the country’s next general election.