Shiite factions disregard outcome of Iraqi parliament’s first session

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Several Shiite factions on Sunday said they will not be recognizing the outcomes of the first parliamentary session , dedicated to choosing its speaker, due to the absence of a constitutionally-required member when the voting occurred. The leader had been carried out of the session after falling ill during the chaos of the meeting.

The Iraqi parliament held its first session on Sunday afternoon, almost three months after October’s early election. During the meeting, the head of Taqadum Coalition Mohammed al-Halbousi was re-elected for a second term as speaker of Iraq’s parliament and Sadrist MP Hakim al-Zamli was elected as his first deputy speaker of the body. Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) Shakhawan Abdullah was also elected second deputy speaker of parliament.

The legislative session had earlier erupted into disorder after the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite factions that continue to object to the election results, submitted a paper claiming they, rather than the Sadrist Movement, now hold the biggest parliamentary bloc with 88 seats, MPs from the scene told Rudaw.

The eldest MP Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, who was leading the session, was evacuated from the hall after falling ill following the flare-up of tensions and arguments between the blocs.

The Coordination Framework, however, condemned what happened in the session, saying they “will not recognize the outcomes” of it as the eldest member, who is constitutionally required to chair the session, was “absent.”

“We condemn the assault that happened today [Sunday] on the president of the eldest [eldest MP] of the house of representatives, which caused chaos in the parliament session, and prompted the eldest MP to request the suspension of the session for legal scrutiny,” the framework said in a statement, a copy of which was sent to Rudaw.

It reiterated that the Coordination Framework does “not recognize the outcomes of the electoral session for the council president and his two deputies, as it took place in the absence of the aging president who is still committed to performing his duties.”

Footage circulating on social media shows lawmakers crowding around Mashhadani, who was carried out of the room by security forces shortly after the session started.

It later resumed with Khalid al-Daraji, the third eldest MP, leading the session, according to state media.

In the statement, the framework noted that the session continued “without any legal basis,” with only “some blocs” present at the parliament hall.

Iraq held an early election on October 10. The vote was called in response to mass protests in the country beginning in October 2019, caused by widespread dissatisfaction with Iraq’s politicians and endemic corruption in the country.

According to a long-standing agreement, the three main leadership positions in the Iraqi government are divided among Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis. Whereas Kurds get the presidency, Shiites get the premiership, and Sunnis get the parliamentary speaker.

“Choosing the parliament president [speaker] and his deputies is the first sign of a national majority government,” leader of the Sadrist Movement, which secured the largest number of seats in the vote, Muqtada al-Sadr said in a tweet. His political movement has presented Halbousi with the names and signatures of the largest parliamentary bloc, according to state media. 

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi congratulated Halbousi and both his deputies on their election. KDP leader Masoud Barzani also congratulated Halbousi and his two deputies after the session ended. 

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said in a tweet that he looks forward to  continue working closely with Halbousi "for all the country and Erbil-Baghdad ties in particular."

Dilan Ghafoor, a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) MP from Kirkuk, who was re-elected in the October 10 elections, said her party nominates Barham Salih for a second term for the presidency position.

According to Article 54 of the Iraqi constitution, when the election results are confirmed, it sets in motion a process for the winning parties to form a government. Within 15 days of the ratification of the results, the president calls on the parliament to meet, chaired by its eldest member, and elect a speaker and two deputies by an absolute majority during its first session according to Article 55. The parliament also elects a president from among candidates by a two-thirds majority.

The president then tasks the largest bloc in the parliament with forming the government, naming a prime minister within 15 days of the election of the president. The prime minister-elect then has 30 days to name a cabinet.

Updated at 12:03 am