Al-Hikma leader urges political dialogue to resolve Council of Representatives' Speaker vacancy
The Council of Representatives has struggled to elect a new speaker since the judiciary removed former speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi on November 14, 2023.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Ammar al-Hakim, head of the Al-Hikma National Movement, has called on political parties to resolve the ongoing issue of the vacant position of the Council of Representatives' Speaker through dialogue, emphasizing its critical impact on Iraq's political stability.
"The post of speaker of the Council of Representatives has remained vacant for more than seven months. This is a significant problem that does not serve the political process and stability we are campaigning for. Therefore, this post must be decided by political consensus,” al-Hakim stated in a speech.
Al-Hakim urged all political forces to "resolve this post in accordance with the constitution and national participation, to avoid causing conflict within any particular community. We reiterate that our unity is our strength."
The Council of Representatives has struggled to elect a new speaker since the judiciary removed former speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi on November 14, 2023.
Despite five sessions and three voting processes, the council has not been able to reach a consensus.
Voting for the new speaker began on Saturday, May 18, 2024, with candidates Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, Salem Matar al-Issawi, Talal Zubai, and Amir Abdul Jabbar.
None of the candidates secured the required 166 out of 329 votes in the first round, leading to a second round of voting, which also failed to produce a result.
In the second round, the votes were as follows: Mahmoud al-Mashhadani received 137 votes, al-Issawi 158 votes, and Jabbar 3 votes.
The session was adjourned after a fight broke out in the Iraqi Council of Representatives over selecting a new speaker, leading to an indefinite postponement.
Kurdistan 24's reporter Shivan Jabari in Baghdad reported the disruption, indicating the challenges ahead in resolving this critical political issue.
Read More: Brawl broke out in Iraqi parliament over selecting new speaker
Additional reporting by Kurdistan24's Correspondent Zanko Mohammed