Fight breaks out in Iraq's parliament over speaker's position
Local media reported that tensions and physical altercations erupted late on May 18 within the Iraqi Parliament over the election of a new speaker.
As security personnel intervened in the parliament chamber to restore order, several members sustained injuries. This included Heybat al-Halbousi, a Taqaddum bloc representative who was assaulted during the chaos surrounding the selection of the next parliament speaker. Iraq's Sunni population holds control over this role as part of the country's distribution of key government positions based on ethno-confessional principles. The president represents the Kurdish community, the prime minister is a Shia Muslim, and the parliament speaker is a Sunni Muslim.
Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Vian Sabri warned that further unrest could occur if the speaker's position is not resolved soon.
Sabri said that Shia blocs [close to Iran] are trying to delay the appointment of a new speaker for the parliament.
In an interview with regional Kurdistan 24, Sabri noted that if the position is not settled this evening, tensions within the parliament might escalate.
According to her, if no new speaker is elected, Mohsen al-Mandalawi will remain the acting speaker of the House of Representatives, and the current candidates will remain.
After a close contest between Salem al-Issawi and Mahmoud al-Mashhadani in the second round of voting, the Iraqi Parliament failed to elect a new speaker, forcing a decisive third round.
The parliament's media office reported that Salem al-Issawi received 158 votes, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani received 137 votes, and Amer Abdul-Jabbar received 3 votes.
According to Acting Speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi, after the recess, a decision will be made on whether to proceed to a third round or adjourn the session until further notice.
In November 2023, the Federal Court of Iraq ruled to terminate the powers of then-speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi, who was elected chairman of the Council of Representatives in 2018 and reelected in 2022.
