Iraq’s Sixth Parliamentary Session Begins Amid Intense Political Competition
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the inaugural session of Iraq‘s sixth parliamentary term began on Monday, December 29, under the leadership of interim speaker Amer al-Fayez. The session, marked by intense political competition, aims to determine the parliament’s speaker and two deputy speakers, a critical step toward forming a new government.
The session is divided into two phases: the first involves lawmakers taking the constitutional oath, while the second focuses on voting for the parliament’s leadership. Political tradition in Iraq reserves the speaker’s position for Sunni factions, adding complexity to the proceedings.
The National Political Council, holding a majority of Sunni seats, has nominated Tahir al-Halbousi from the Taqaddom Party as its final candidate for speaker. However, the Azm Alliance has rejected this decision, backing Muthanna al-Samarrai instead, highlighting a significant divide among Sunni factions.
Meanwhile, Shiite coalitions, particularly the Coordination Framework, are negotiating candidates for the first deputy speaker position. Adnan al-Fayhan from the Sadiqoun bloc, Yasser al-Maliki from the State of Law Coalition, and Mohsen al-Mandalawi from the Al-Asas bloc are among the leading contenders. The Kurdistan Democratic Party has officially nominated Shakhawan Abdullah for the second deputy speaker role, traditionally reserved for Kurdish representatives.
