Iraq
Vehicles drive past a billboard showing ousted Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbussi, who is running in the local elections in December, along a main road in Baghdad on November 14, 2023. Photo: Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The ruling pro-Iran Coordination Framework on Wednesday declared that it will abide by the Iraqi top court’s ruling to revoke the parliamentary membership of Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi. The ousted speaker is allied with the Shiite bloc in the State Administration coalition.
The Iraqi Federal Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled to revoke Halbousi’s parliamentary membership and end his tenure as speaker of parliament, The Sunni strongman was accused of forging the parliamentary resignation of another Sunni lawmaker in 2022 by changing the date on the document.
“The Coordination Framework unanimously affirms its respect for the judiciary and it adheres to the Federal Court’s decision regarding the termination of Halbousi’s membership,” read a statement from the bloc, adding that it “rejects any harm to the reputation, impartiality and objectivity of the Iraqi judiciary.”
Halbousi and the Coordination Framework were on bad terms following the 2021 parliamentary elections, as the speaker opposed the Framework’s bid to form the next Iraqi cabinet, and allied his Sunni alliance with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Muqtada al-Sadr’s Sadrist Movement in an attempt to form a government.
They eventually agreed to unite forces and form the government as part of the State Administration coalition following Sadr’s withdrawal from the political process.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Halbousi accused the top court of violating the Iraqi constitution, and said that the court has no authority to determine the validity of an MP’s membership unless the legislature requests it to do so.
Halbousi on Wednesday held separate meetings with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) chief Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and leader of the Sunni Sovereignty party Khamis al-Khanjar.
Halbousi, Sudani, and Khanjar’s media offices continued to refer to the ousted lawmaker as the “Speaker of the House of Representatives” in their statements published following the meetings. UNAMI’s statement simply referred to him as “Mr. Mohammed al-Halbousi.”
Dozens in Anbar province, Halbousi’s hometown, held “celebrations” on Wednesday evening, welcoming the powerful politician’s “return” to the city by firing live bullets in the air.
The Iraqi parliament held its first session without Halbousi on Wednesday. The parliament’s First Deputy Speaker Muhsin al-Mandalawi chaired the meeting.
The court’s ruling against Halbousi jeopardizes Iraq’s upcoming provincial council elections, set for December 18. The term of the electoral commission is set to expire on December 7. If the parliament fails to extend the commission’s term before this date, the vote could be delayed.
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