ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The US Embassy in Baghdad released a statement on Monday welcoming the fifth Iraqi parliament, congratulating the newly elected officials, and expressing hope in the quick formation of a new government.
In the statement, the embassy highlighted the role and significance of the parliament, calling it an integral and inseparable component of Iraq’s democratic process and its national sovereignty.
After congratulating Mohammed al-Halbousi, Hakim al-Zamli, and Shakhawan Abdullah on their respective positions to Speaker of Parliament, First Deputy Director, and Second Deputy Director, the embassy stated that they “share the hope that Iraq's leaders and the newly seated COR [Council of Representatives] will swiftly undertake the process of forming a new government.”
The embassy said that considering Iraq’s important role in regional stability and security, the swift formation of the government would be an essential step in the process of continuing to protect democracy” and “addressing the urgent challenges currently facing Iraq and the region.”
The statement concluded with the embassy expressing its hope that, once the new government is formed it would be a reflection of the Iraqi people’s will and would “work to address Iraq’s governance, human rights, security, and economic challenges.”
The comments come at a time where the leader of the parliament’s largest group, the Sadrist bloc, Muqtada al-Sadr, released a statement on Sunday setting conditions for the US to follow should his party assume the Iraqi premiership in the new government.
The Shiite cleric called on the US to respect Iraq’s sovereignty and avoid interfering in the country’s internal matters, including the formation of the government, promising diplomatic and popular responses if they do.
The Iraqi parliament held its first session on Sunday, almost three months after October’s early election. During the meeting, the head of Taqadum Coalition al-Halbousi was re-elected for a second term as speaker of Iraq’s parliament and Sadrist MP al-Zamli was elected as his first deputy speaker of the body. The Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) Shakhawan Abdullah was also elected second deputy speaker of parliament, with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) abstaining from the vote and not attending the session.
By Chenar Chalak
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