Azem Alliance leader criticizes Shiite forces over parliament speaker election
Haider al-Mulla, leader of the Azem Alliance, expressed his concerns in an interview, stating, "There is no agreement on the post of speaker of parliament, but the Shiite Coordination Framework should no longer create obstacles to the post of speaker."
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – A leader of the Azem Alliance has voiced strong criticism against Shiite forces, particularly the Coordination Framework, accusing them of obstructing the election of a new speaker for the Iraqi parliament.
Haider al-Mulla, leader of the Azem Alliance, expressed his concerns in an interview, stating, "There is no agreement on the post of speaker of parliament, but the Shiite Coordination Framework should no longer create obstacles to the post of speaker."
Al-Mulla emphasized that following the removal of the previous speaker, there was no agreement linking the meeting to approve laws with the meeting to elect a new speaker.
"There has been no consensus on the election of the speaker of parliament, which is another obstacle to the post being resolved, because throughout the political process in Iraq, there has been no consensus on the election of any of the three presidencies,” he explained.
He further elaborated, "The majority opinion can be drafted, but a comprehensive agreement cannot be reached, so the majority must be taken into account, as in the election process of all three presidencies, because not everyone agrees on the same personality."
Al-Mulla warned that the continued obstruction by Shiite parties would ultimately harm their own interests, especially with upcoming elections on the horizon.
"The speaker may be decided by a majority or a minority in parliament, but the Shiite parties should know that keeping the issue of the speaker in this way will harm themselves, especially as we face the next elections. Those who call for an agreement of all Sunnis must know that their obstacles will eventually reverse the situation and affect the entire political process," he stressed.
Since the Federal Court's decision on November 14, 2023, to terminate the membership of Mohammed al-Halbusi in the Iraqi parliament, the position of speaker, traditionally held by a Sunni, has been temporarily occupied by the first deputy speaker, a Shiite. Despite numerous meetings, the issue surrounding the appointment of a new speaker remains unresolved.
