Iraqi parliament sets session to elect new speaker

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The members of the Iraqi Council of Representatives are set to convene on Saturday to elect a new speaker less than two months after the ouster of its former head.

The parliament announced on Thursday that a session will be held on Saturday afternoon to elect a new speaker.

The Iraqi Federal Supreme Court in mid-November ousted Mohammed Al-Halboosi, the former speaker, on charges of forging a signature. The former governor of Anbar and the Sunni figure vehemently rejected the verdict.

The official was serving his second term as the speaker by the time the verdict ousted him.

The Sunni political parties have not yet presented a unified nominee to replace the ousted leader, but sources have revealed three Sunni figures have been proposed to take the helm. Salim Al Issawi, Sheikh Sha’lan, and Mahmood Mashhadani are the potential successors, according to informed sources.

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.

Per an unofficial system, each of Iraq’s top posts is apportioned among the major ethnic and sectarian components, with the head of the legislative house going to a Sunni, the republican president filled by a Kurd while the premiership goes to a Shia’.