Al-Halbousi and Al-Samarrai are competing for the presidency.
Al-Halbousi and Al-Samarrai are competing for the presidency.
2025/12/28
Baghdad: Omar Abdul Latif
And Muhannad Abdul Wahab
All eyes are on the House of Representatives session scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, December 29, as a crucial constitutional juncture that cannot be postponed. The head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zaidan, stressed that the session must end with a decision on the appointment of the Speaker of the Council and his two deputies, warning that any postponement would be a clear violation of the constitution.
The session’s agenda includes the swearing-in of council members, followed by the election of its speaker and two deputies. The National Political Council is expected to field two candidates if no agreement is reached on a single nominee. Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has emphasized resolving its differences with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) after the election of the president. Chief Justice Faiq Zaidan, head of the Supreme Judicial Council, stressed that the first session of the new parliament must conclude with the selection of the speaker and his two deputies, asserting that “any attempt to postpone or extend the session is a clear violation of the constitution and has no legal basis.”
The Council’s media office announced the agenda for tomorrow’s session, which includes the swearing-in of the winning members of the Council in its sixth legislative session, followed by the election of the Speaker of Parliament and his two deputies. It is likely that the “National Political Council,” representing the Sunni forces, will enter with two candidates if a single candidate is not nominated for the Speakership. Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Democratic Party confirmed that the differences with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan will be resolved after the election of the President of the Republic. While the “Coordination Framework” has not agreed on a candidate for Prime Minister, news has emerged of a meeting of the “Framework” to choose the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
The word “judiciary”
The head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zaidan, had previously settled the controversy surrounding the first session of the new House of Representatives, stressing that this session, scheduled for December 29, 2025 (tomorrow, Monday), cannot be postponed or extended, and that the appointment of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his two deputies must be decided during it, in accordance with what is stipulated in the constitution and the law.
Zaidan’s remarks came during his meeting – a few days ago – with the head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Bafel Talabani, in a meeting that addressed the entire political process and the need to adhere to the constitutional timelines for the formation of constitutional authorities. The Supreme Judicial Council explained that the meeting emphasized the importance of respecting the constitutional deadlines for electing the three presidencies, as they are the basic pillar for ensuring a smooth transition of legislative and executive power, and preventing the country from entering a constitutional vacuum or new political crises.
Zaidan emphasized that any attempt to postpone or extend the first session of the Council of Representatives (tomorrow, Monday) would be a clear violation of the constitution and would lack any legal basis. He added that the Iraqi constitution sets clear deadlines that cannot be exceeded, and that respecting these deadlines is a national obligation before it is a legal one.
In a related context, Zidan stressed the need to adhere to the constitutional deadline for nominating a presidential candidate, which is thirty days from the date of the election of the Speaker of Parliament, warning that exceeding this deadline could open the door to complex legal and political problems.
President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid had officially set December 29 as the date for the first session of the House of Representatives, in a move described as confirming the commitment to constitutional requirements and the start of a new parliamentary session in accordance with its legal timelines.
The complexities of the scene
For his part, Dr. Salah Al-Dulaimi, a member of the “Al-Azm” coalition, told Al-Sabah: “The winning blocs and national alliances have not yet decided on the final names for the three presidencies,” stressing that “consultations are still ongoing between the various political parties in light of the complexities of the current political scene.”
Al-Dulaimi added that “the experience of the political process in Iraq indicates that the decision is often made at the last minute, in what has become known as ‘last-minute decisions,’ which is something that has been repeated in previous constitutional entitlements,” expecting that “the next stage will witness a similar scenario as the date of the decisive sessions approaches.”
He explained that the Azm Alliance continues to strengthen the role of the National Political Council as the political representative of Sunni Arabs in Iraq, noting that the agreement within the Council remains in place and is based on a consensus-based approach among its constituent parties, ensuring a unified political stance and prioritizing the national interest. Al-Dulaimi indicated that the position of Speaker of Parliament is among the most prominent issues under discussion at this stage, pointing to a trend toward holding the parliamentary session scheduled for tomorrow, the 29th of this month, with two prominent figures, Muthanna al-Samarrai and Mohammed al-Halbousi, presiding, according to the spokesperson.
He pointed out that “if the parliament session is held according to this course, Muthanna al-Samarrai’s chances are the closest to assuming the presidency of the House of Representatives, due to the broad national acceptance he enjoys among the various political forces, whether Sunni Arabs or Shiite and Kurdish forces.”
“The Political Council”
Despite the “determination” to bring two figures to tomorrow’s session, the “Alliance” itself, through its member Aras al-Mashhadani, clarified that “there is no compromise candidate for the presidency of the House of Representatives, nor a candidate outside the agreements of the (National Political Council) in tomorrow’s session, Monday.”
Al-Mashhadani added, in an interview with Al-Sabah, that “all the candidates whose names are being circulated are affiliated with leaders within the (Political Council), and no one can nominate themselves without the permission or approval of the (Council),” noting that “there is an insistence that the nomination process be free for anyone who wishes to nominate themselves, and therefore there will be two candidates for this position.”
He continued, “The head of the (Al-Azm) Alliance, Muthanna Al-Samarrai, announced his candidacy to everyone since the first session of the (Political Council). Therefore, understandings were reached with the national political circles and spaces for this matter, to present the candidate’s program and reach agreements between the leadership and the components of the (Coordination Framework), the (Kurdish House), and one of the leaders of the (National Political Council).”
He explained that “Al-Samarrai cannot give up the position or the entitlement of the component, especially since it is the second bloc in terms of the number of seats, and he also has balanced relations with the partners and his position is good with them, and he is keen to ensure that calm prevails in the political process and understanding, and that is the basis of his entry, his work and his program in managing the House of Representatives when he assumes the position of President.”
Candidates and entitlements
For his part, Fahd al-Jubouri, a member of the “Wisdom Movement,” told Al-Sabah that “the lack of a decision or the continuation of disagreements regarding the nomination of candidates for the alliances, especially those related to the Sunni component, has become a real challenge to completing the constitutional requirements. However, current indicators suggest the possibility of a meeting that could be held today, Sunday, producing positive results, through an agreement on the name of a candidate for the presidency of the House of Representatives, based on the ongoing discussions within the (National Political Council).”
Al-Jubouri explained that “postponing the parliamentary session is no longer an option,” stressing that “the political blocs are now facing a constitutional obligation that cannot be skipped or obstructed, and if a final agreement is not reached, the constitutional procedures will take their natural course towards naming the candidate, in order to prevent the continuation of the institutional vacuum or the disruption of the political scene.”
Regarding the “coordination framework” and the file of selecting the Prime Minister, Al-Jubouri indicated that “consultations are still ongoing within the (framework), and that there is a general trend and a preliminary decision to announce the name of the Prime Minister on the twenty-ninth of this month, but the current data – according to his assessment – does not yet indicate the maturation of a final consensus that leads to an official nomination during this date.”
He explained that “(the coordination framework) deals with the Sunni and Kurdish components in a spirit of understanding, based on the desire to reach a candidate who enjoys political acceptance and meets the legal and constitutional requirements,” noting that “the next session, from a constitutional standpoint, is required to resolve the issue of the Speaker of Parliament and his two deputies, as it is a fundamental step for the regularity of the work of the legislative authority and the completion of the remaining entitlements.”
Al-Jubouri added that “what is related to the Shiite component is subject to the specified constitutional deadlines, as the deadline extends to fifty days pending the completion of the presidential file, and then moving to complete the formation of the government in accordance with the constitutional contexts and in a way that ensures political stability and preserves the balance of national partnership.”
He stressed that “the current stage requires a high degree of political responsibility and strict adherence to constitutional texts,” emphasizing that “any further delay in resolving these issues will negatively affect institutional performance and public confidence, which requires all parties to prioritize the logic of the state and constitutional entitlement over narrow calculations.”
Advanced negotiations
Zahraa Kazem Al-Sadr, a member of the political bureau of the “Wisdom Movement”, indicated that “the negotiations related to the formation of the government have entered an advanced stage.”
Zahraa al-Sadr added, in an interview with Al-Sabah, that “the current negotiations are based on establishing the political and organizational rules before moving on to deciding on names, starting with adopting a clear classification of ministries and positions, to confirming that all entitlements are subject to a points equation based exclusively on the election results, without any interpretations or claims outside this framework.”
She explained that “priorities for the next phase have been determined at the ministerial level, with some key issues resolved and others postponed to later rounds to finalize agreements, ensuring the cohesion and effectiveness of the upcoming cabinet.” For his part, Haitham al-Mayahi, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, anticipated that the position of Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament would be allocated to the KDP during the current session.
Al-Mayahi told Al-Sabah: “There are quotas distributed according to each party’s entitlement, and since the Democratic Party won the highest number of votes and Kurdish seats, it will have many entitlements in Baghdad,” expecting that the position of Deputy Speaker of Parliament will go to the Democratic Party.
He added that “the disputes and differences between the Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan will be resolved after the selection of the Speaker of Parliament and the President of the Republic.”
Political vision
Political analyst Dr. Mohammed al-Rubaie told Al-Sabah newspaper, “The failure of political blocs and alliances to finalize their nominations for constitutional positions reflects a clear lack of political will, more so than any constitutional or procedural complexity.” Al-Rubaie added, “Tomorrow’s session, called for by the President, represents an important constitutional and political opportunity to break the deadlock. However, the failure to reach agreements during this session confirms the continuation of a crisis management logic and the exchange of pressure between blocs, instead of adhering to the principle of national partnership and respecting the requirements of this stage.” He explained that “while the constitution does not impose direct penalties for delays in certain areas, it does hold political forces responsible for upholding the constitutional order and ensuring the proper functioning of the authorities.” He warned that “the obstruction of these appointments opens the door to deeper crises and empties the political process of its representative substance.”
Al-Rubaie stressed that “the continuation of disputes and the failure to make mutual concessions cannot be justified legally or politically, especially in light of the economic and service conditions that require a fully empowered executive authority,” calling on “the blocs to bear their national responsibilities and move from the logic of factional gains to the logic of the state and institutions.”
He explained that “any further delay will be held against the political forces in the eyes of the public.”
Law Talk
For his part, legal expert Jamal Al-Asadi explained in an interview with Al-Sabah that “the President of the Republic called for the first session of the House of Representatives to be held on 29/12/2025, in implementation of the provisions of Article (54) of the Iraqi Constitution, provided that the session is held exclusively to elect the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his two deputies, and is chaired by the oldest member, and by direct secret ballot.”
Al-Asadi explained that “this call is a constitutional duty that cannot be postponed or subject to interpretation, and it comes after the Federal Supreme Court ratified the election results and officially sent them to the Presidency of the Republic,” noting that “any deviation from this path is a clear violation of the constitution.”
He added, “The judiciary of the Supreme Federal Court, in its decision No. (55/Federal/2010) issued on 1/25/2011, established that any procedure that violates the provisions of Articles (54 and 55) of the Constitution is unconstitutional, and this constitutes a binding legal reference for all authorities.”
Al-Asadi explained that “the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Dr. Faiq Zaidan, stressed, during his meeting on 24/12/2025 with MP Amer Al-Fayez, who will preside over the first session as the oldest member, the necessity of strictly adhering to the constitutional texts and rejecting any interpretations or opinions that explicitly contradict the provisions of the constitution, in order to preserve constitutional legitimacy and the stability of the state’s political course.”
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