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Iraq
A session of the Iraqi parliament chaired by first deputy speaker Muhsin al-Mandalawi on February 10, 2024. Photo: Mandalawi's office/Facebook
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi parliament on Saturday failed to elect a new speaker after a brawl broke out between members of the legislature, resulting in the session being adjourned.
Veteran Sunni politician Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and Sunni lawmaker Salem al-Issawi, head of the Sunni Sovereignty bloc, were the main candidates vying for the position that has been empty for half a year.
A first vote was held on January 13, but no candidate was able to obtain the required absolute majority. On Monday, Taqadum endorsed Mashhadani for the position. The party feels entitled to the position since it is the largest Sunni bloc in the legislature.
A vote was held Saturday afternoon, but again no winner emerged, requiring a third round of voting, expected to take place on the same day.
The parliament session resumed Saturday evening, but MPs from the Taqadum party protested.
“Taqadum MPs asked to change the bylaw to be able to present new candidates for the position. Because of this issue, disagreement and fighting broke out in the legislature," MP Nahro Mahmoud told Rudaw.
In the brawl that broke out between several lawmakers, Taqadum MP Haibat al-Halbousi received a head injury.
The session was adjourned without the third round of voting taking place.
The post of speaker has been empty since November when the Federal Supreme Court ruled to revoke Mohammed al-Halbousi’s parliamentary membership and end his tenure as speaker. The Sunni strongman was accused of forging the resignation of another lawmaker in 2022 by changing the date on the document.
In January, Taqadum fielded Shaalan al-Karim for the post, but he withdrew from the race three months later due to opposition from Shiite blocs in the parliament.
Under Iraq’s sectarian power-sharing system, the post of parliament speaker is always reserved for the Sunnis, the prime minister position for the Shiites, and the presidency for the Kurds.
The Coordination Framework, the largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament, earlier this month called on the Sunnis to fill the speaker position within a week.
Anmar Ghazi contributed to this report
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