Iraqi Sunni blocs to name Parliament Speaker nominee
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The National Political Council—an alliance of Sunni parties that won seats in the recent elections—is expected to finalize its candidate for Iraq’s parliamentary speakership on Thursday.
Mohammed Daham, a senior member of the Al-Azm Alliance led by Muthanna Al-Samarrai, told Shafaq News that council leaders will meet in the evening at the residence of Al-Hasm Alliance head Thabet Al-Abbasi to decide the selection mechanism and reach a final agreement.
He confirmed that the council will likely endorse two names—former Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi and Al-Samarrai—as official candidates.
The move follows earlier signals from senior Al-Azm figure Salah Al-Marrawi that the council would reveal its nominee one or two days before the constitutional deadline.
Under Iraq’s legal framework, the newly elected parliament must choose a speaker and two deputies within 15 days of the Federal Supreme Court’s ratification of election results, which occurred on December 14.
Read more: Iraq begins 90-day countdown to form government as political fault lines re-emerge
President Abdul Latif Rashid has scheduled the first parliamentary session for December 29, to be presided over by the oldest elected member, Amer Al-Fayez.
Iraq’s post-2003 political structure allocates the speakership to a Sunni, the prime ministership to a Shia, and the presidency to a Kurd.
Four other candidates are in contention for the speaker’s post: former Education Minister Mohammed Tamim, caretaker Defense Minister Thabet Al-Abbasi, Sovereignty Alliance MP Salem Al-Issawi, and Al-Hasm MP Mahmoud Al-Qaisi.
Read more: New term, new battle: Six candidates chase Iraq’s speakership
