ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Sunni blocs in Iraq have agreed to nominate Haybat al-Halbousi as their candidate for parliament speaker ahead of the first session of the legislature’s sixth term on Monday, with the exception of the Azm Alliance, which continues to back its leader, Muthanna al-Samarrai.
Khamis al-Khanjar, head of the Sovereignty Alliance, said during a press conference in Baghdad that Haybat al-Halbousi would be the “sole representative” of the Sunni bloc for the next parliament speaker.
Azm has rejected Halbousi’s nomination and insists on Samarrai as its candidate, who was not present during the presser.
The decision followed a meeting on Sunday aimed at unifying Sunni blocs behind a single nominee or proceeding with rival bids split between the Taqaddum Party and the Azm Alliance.
Mudhafar al-Karkhi, a member of Azm, told Rudaw after the meeting had begun that former parliament speaker and head of Taqaddum Party, Mohammed al-Halbousi, had withdrawn from the race for parliament speaker.
However, Ali Mahmoud, a Taqaddum Party member, told Rudaw before the meeting that “our only candidate is Mohammed al-Halbousi, and no other names are being considered.