Parliament faces a new crisis: widespread controversy surrounds the vote on the cabinet.
Parliament faces a new crisis: widespread controversy surrounds the vote on the cabinet.
5-23-2026
The political compass in Iraq is pointing towards a new phase of power struggles within the halls of parliament, with clear indications of widening disagreements within the House of Representatives regarding the completion of Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi’s cabinet. An analytical reading of the current situation reveals a complex crisis with both technical and political dimensions. The mechanism used to manage voting sessions has become the subject of explicit accusations of unprofessionalism, amidst escalating parliamentary demands to transition to automation and electronic voting to ensure high transparency and prevent the “politicization of the gavel.”
This procedural confusion within the legislative institution coincides with parallel moves behind the scenes of political maneuvering, where attempts are underway to establish opposing parliamentary blocs and alliances.
This complex equation places the new government’s service-oriented agenda in a minefield of early crises, and political factions warn against a return to the abhorrent system of sectarian quotas and exclusion, which threatens to paralyze executive action and plunge the country into a new cycle of bickering and obstruction, the price of which may be paid by the people’s urgent demands.
The clash between the gavel and electronic voting mechanisms
in the legislative process has led the Victory Coalition to accuse the Speaker of Parliament, Haibat al-Halbousi, of unprofessional conduct during the vote on Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s cabinet. The coalition called for the immediate adoption of electronic voting to finalize the remaining ministerial appointments.
Coalition spokesperson Aqeel al-Rudaini told the Al-Maalomah news agency that “the Speaker of Parliament should have used the modern electronic voting system to pass the ministers, thus avoiding the current political and legal problems.” He added that “there are many serious questions and concerns regarding the performance of Speaker al-Halbousi during the session to vote on the ministers.”
Al-Rudaini further stated that “the Speaker resorted to using the gavel to end the vote and prevent the approval of some ministers, despite the presence of a quorum and a sufficient number of MPs actually voting in the chamber to approve al-Zaidi’s cabinet.” He emphasized that “full reliance on electronic technology in the voting process guarantees the highest levels of transparency and prevents such procedural violations within the legislative institution.”
Shadow alliances and the dangers of power-sharing:
On a parallel front, inseparable from the inner workings of parliament, the Azm Alliance warned on Saturday of concerted efforts by some political blocs to form counter-alliances aimed directly at obstructing the work of the new government and delaying the implementation of its service and executive program.
Azm Alliance member Haider al-Asadi told the Al-Maalomah news agency that “the recent moves and intensive meetings of some political parties to create new blocs and conclude side and counter-agreements carry clear exclusionary objectives.” He added that “these rapid steps raise alarming concerns about the return of the abhorrent power-sharing system and the monopolization of political decision-making in the country.”
Al-Asadi pointed out that “the general situation in the country cannot bear further political bickering and legislative paralysis, and that forming such narrow-minded alliances will directly hinder the work of the executive branch and prevent it from addressing the current crises.” He called on all political forces to “prioritize the supreme national interest and support the stability of state institutions instead of pursuing narrow factional and partisan gains.”
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