Politics

KDP warns of ‘deepening tensions’ following Iraq parliament speaker termination

The KDP’s statement comes as the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court (FSC) on Tuesday terminated the parliamentary membership of Mohammed Al-Halboosi.

Kurdistan 24 2023/11/16 14:29

Vehicles drive past a billboard showing Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbussi, who is running in the local elections in December, along a main throughfare in Baghdad, Nov. 14, 2023. (Photo: Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP)

Kurdistan KDP Mohammad al-Halboosi

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) warned on Thursday that the recent decision by the Iraqi federal supreme court against the current parliament speaker could deepen and worsen tensions in the country amid regional instability.

The KDP’s statement comes as the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court (FSC) on Tuesday terminated the parliamentary membership of Mohammed Al-Halboosi, hence removing him from the speakership, for “faking official documents”.

“The removal of the head of the legislative house will deepen and exacerbate tensions,” KDP Spokesperson Mahmood Mohammed said in a statement on Thursday, calling on the Iraqi parties that have formed the government, to consider the volatile situation, from which a “significant quake” is expected.

The KDP and Al-Halboosi’s Taqadoom part is part of the Administering the State Coalition, a government formation alliance consisting of mostly Shiite parties from the Coordination Framework along with the two ruling Kurdish parties, KDP and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

At least three cabinet members from Al-Halboosi’s party have resigned from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani's government in protest of the court decision.

The Kurdish party called for implementing the clauses that the Coalition parties have agreed upon, including those that call for forming a Federal Council and reconstituting the FSC.

The guiding principles of the New Iraq – a term used to refer to the governance system adopted following the ouster of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003 by the US – that includes partnership, consensus, and balance should be respected, the spokesperson said.