Iraq - October 2024

On 31 October, Iraq's Parliament elected Mahmoud al-Mashhadani as its new speaker, ending nearly a year of political deadlock. The position had been vacant since November 2023, when the Federal Supreme Court removed former speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi over forgery allegations. The Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament plays a key role in facilitating the effective functioning of the legislative process, managing debates and ensuring the timely passage of laws. The election of Al-Mashhadani follows months of negotiations, marking a rare moment of consensus in Iraq's divided parliament, where Sunni factions had struggled to agree on a replacement for the position, which is reserved for a Sunni Muslim.

Sources: Associated Press, The New Arab, Al Arabiya, International IDEA