A photograph shows Iraq's parliament building in Baghdad as newly elected lawmakers are due to hold their first session on Dec. 29, 2025. (Credit: Ahmad aL-Rubaye/AFP)
Iraq's newly elected parliament convened on Monday for its first session since the November national election, opening the way for MPs' to begin the process of forming a new government.
The parliament elected Sunni MP Haibat al-Halbousi as speaker at its opening session on Monday following November's national election, launching a process to form a new government that often takes months.
A parliamentary statement said Halbousi secured 208 out of a total of 283 votes. The speaker plays a key role in maintaining legislative order, mediating disputes and building consensus in Iraq's sectarian-oriented and often fragmented political system.
Under the Iraqi constitution, parliament must elect a speaker and two deputies at its opening session, then choose a new president within 30 days. The president will in turn task the largest parliamentary bloc with forming a government.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's bloc won the most seats in the election. The next government will need to navigate the delicate balance between U.S. and Iranian influence, with dozens of Iran-aligned militia groups complicating the picture.
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