Iraq still without parliament speaker five months after Halbusi’s ouster
Previous parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi was removed from office in November, and parliament has yet to agree on a successor amid political controversies, including allegations related to former ruler Saddam Hussein.
![Iraqis stand outside parliament building, or Council of Representatives, in the Green Zone, Baghdad, Iraq, Feb. 27, 2020.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/2024-04/GettyImages-1203649345%20%281%29.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=C-pu2U8i)
Iraq is still without a parliament speaker nearly five months after the removal of Mohammed al-Halbusi. Recent court cases are complicating efforts to choose a new speaker, and the lack of a successor has left a leadership void that is affecting the country’s sectarian power-sharing arrangement.
The Iraqi Federal Supreme Court ended Halbusi's term in November. The decision related to a case against Halbusi by another Sunni member of parliament, Laith al-Dulaimi. Early last year, Dulaimi accused Halbusi of forging his signature on a resignation letter. Both men were formally removed from the legislative body by the court in the November ruling.
Parliamentary deadlock
The Iraqi parliament held a vote on electing a new speaker in January. Shaalan al-Karim, who is supported by Halbusi, received 152 votes, while Salim al-Eisawi, the candidate backed by Sunni business mogul Khamis Khanjar, received 97 votes, and former speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani received 48 votes. All failed to receive a majority of support from the 329-member parliament, meaning at least 165 votes.