BAGHDAD —
Iraq's top court on Tuesday confirmed the
reelection of Mohammed Al-Halbussi as parliament speaker, following appeals
against its conduct, paving the way towards the formation of a new government.
اضافة اعلان
Two lawmakers had appealed Halbussi's reelection as speaker,
a position historically reserved for Iraq's Sunni Arab minority, during
parliament's opening session earlier in January which was overshadowed by
disputes between rival blocs from the
Shiite majority.
"The Federal Supreme Court rejected the appeal of two
MPs who demanded the annulment of the inaugural session of parliament on
January 9," in which Halbussi was reelected, said presiding judge Jassim
Mohammed Aboud.
The ruling will allow the resumption of parliament sessions,
and along with them deliberations over the selection of a new president, who
will in turn choose the next prime minister, to be approved by the legislature.
Lawmakers have until February 8 to elect a president — a
post historically allocated to a Kurd.
But negotiations between parties and coalitions seeking to
form a parliamentary majority have been marked by tensions, particularly
between key Shiite currents seeking to exert their influence.
Both the Coordination Framework and another bloc formed by
firebrand Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr claim to have the majority needed to elect
a president.
The legislature opened to furious arguments between the
rival factions.
Amid the debate, Mahmud Al-Mashhadani — the oldest member of
parliament who was therefore chairing the opening session — was taken ill and
rushed to hospital.
When the session resumed an hour later, lawmakers reelected
Halbussi of the Sunni Taqadom party as speaker.
Appeals against the speaker's reelection were filed by
Mashhadani and another MP, Bassem Khachan.
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