ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Iraq’s new Speaker of Parliament Mohammed al-Halbousi believes that it is time for a new generation of leaders to build a strong state and make sure Iraq does not get embroiled in regional or international rivalries while rejecting reports that he was chosen for the post due to his closeness to Iran.
“We’re from a young generation and do not believe in sectarianism,” said al-Halbousi in a television interview shortly after his election as the speaker of parliament. “I cannot accept it when they say al-Mihwar is on the side of Iran or the Americans. I’m only working with MPs and blocs that I could work with.”
Al-Halbousi, 36, won the votes of 169 MPs on Saturday and became Iraq’s youngest speaker of parliament.
A Sunni and former governor of Anbar, al-Halbousi told the Iraqiya TV, “Politicians in Anbar think differently today than before. We now all believe in participating in building a strong state. The people of Iraq have rights and we need to build a strong state in order to give them those rights.”
He told the state TV that Iraq and the region as a whole “cannot afford any more trouble” and therefore Baghdad should keep out of geopolitical games.
“I won’t accept for Iraq to become a launchpad for attacks on Iran,” he said. “And I don’t accept Iran’s interference in Syria either. I respect my sovereignty as I respect the sovereignty of other countries.”
Al-Halbousi believes that due to its location Iraq could “become a lynchpin between all of its neighbors.”
Shortly after he was declared the speaker of parliament reports surfaced that al-Halbousi had bribed his way through and that he had bought the position for millions of dollars. The notion was mainly propagated by his contenders including former defense minister Khaled al-Obeidi.
However, an MP from al-Halbousi’s Mihwar bloc and one of his close aides Laith al-Dulaimi dismissed all reports of bribery or ties to Iran.
“Mr. al-Halbousi getting the position of the speaker of parliament is his election win and came with the support of his bloc who voted for him democratically and transparently,” al-Dulaimi told Rudaw. “Allying with the al-Binaa bloc does not necessarily mean being tied to another country, Iran for example, which we try to build strong relations with.”
The speaker of parliament revealed that Iraq will have a politically independent prime minister who will have the support of all other parties, adding that political groups should use their ties with foreign powers for the benefit of Iraq.
“We have to have a prime minister with an Iraqi vision who can work with Iran, with the Americans and the west,” he said on al-Iraqiya. “Someone who isn’t seen as merely representing a party or a bloc.”
“And I want all Iraqi political parties to act as ambassadors for their country,” al-Halbousi added. “If a party has good relations with a certain country they should use it to benefit Iraq and not be used against our country.”
On the economy front, al-Halbousi said the answer lies in the private sector and more investment.
“We need to send a message to the world and tell them that Iraq is stable and ready for their companies and investment,” he said. “Oil prices are never going to go back to where they were. So we have to let the private sector and investment to step in.”
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