ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Monday rejected the resignation of three ministers affiliated with ousted Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi. The Iraqi Federal Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled to revoke Halbousi’s parliamentary membership and end his tenure as the speaker of the legislature after he was accused of forging a document. Taqadum Party, the largest Sunni bloc in parliament, announced in a statement late Tuesday its decision to withdraw from Sudani’s cabinet, ordering the planning, industry and tourism and culture ministers to resign. Iraqi Government Spokesperson Basem al-Awadi said in a statement that PM Sudani “has rejected the resignations of the Ministers of Planning, Industry, and Culture,” adding that the ministers “will resume” their executive duties in office. The court ruling came after another Sunni parliamentarian and former member of the Taqadum Party, Laith al-Dulaimi filed a lawsuit against Halbousi, accusing him of forging his resignation from parliament in 2022. During a press conference on Wednesday, Halbousi accused the top court of violating the Iraqi constitution, and said that the court has no authority to determine the validity of an MP’s membership unless the legislature requests it to do so. Halbousi on Wednesday held separate meetings with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) chief Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and leader of the Sunni Sovereignty party Khamis al-Khanjar. The Iraqi parliament held its first session without Halbousi on Wednesday. The parliament’s First Deputy Speaker Muhsin al-Mandalawi chaired the meeting.
