Iraqi Parliament fails to elect Speaker for second day in a row, suspends session until Sep. 15
The Iraqi Parliament on Tuesday failed to elect a speaker and deputies after convening for the second day.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi Parliament on Tuesday failed to elect a speaker and deputies after convening for the second day.
The temporary leader of the house, Mohammed Ali Zaini, suspended once more the first session of parliament and noted they would reconvene on Sep. 15 to elect a speaker.
As a result of intense competition between the various blocs, no vote was held on the appointments.
Article 54 of the Constitution of Iraq states, "the President of the Republic shall call upon the Council of Representatives to convene by a presidential decree within fifteen days from the date of the ratification of the general election results. Its eldest member shall chair the first session to elect the speaker of the Council and his two deputies. This period may not be extended by more than the aforementioned period."
Since the Federal Supreme Court ratified the election results on Aug. 19, this would put the constitutional deadline for deciding the lawmakers' leadership on Monday, Sept. 3. As such, the parliament is now in violation of the constitution, which does not provide for procedures to be followed in such a case.
Editing by Nadia Riva