Around six weeks after the parliamentary elections in Iraq, the newly elected parliament has begun its work. At the constituent meeting in Baghdad on Monday, all 329 members of parliament were sworn in for a four-year term. The members of parliament re-elected Sunni politician Haibat al-Halbusi from the Takadum Party as president and speaker of parliament by a clear majority.
The election marks the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy process of forming a government. Although the political alliance around incumbent Shiite Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani won a clear majority in the November election, internal tensions within the coalition mean that his reappointment is considered uncertain.
Confessional power sharing complicates government formation
Since the US-led invasion in 2003, Iraq has followed a system of confessional power sharing: according to this system, the office of Speaker of Parliament traditionally goes to a Sunni, the president is a Kurd, and the office of prime minister is held by a Shiite. A new president must now be elected within 30 days of the first parliamentary session. Only then can the largest political alliance be tasked with forming a government. Observers expect tough coalition negotiations between Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish parties – similar to 2021, when the process dragged on for more than 300 days.
Crisis in Iraq
Iraq has been in a deep political crisis for years. Weak governments, corruption, and a lack of public services have severely damaged the population’s trust in politics. In 2019, these grievances led to nationwide mass protests. Internal Shiite power struggles have also repeatedly caused violence in the past. The influence of foreign actors further exacerbates the situation: Iran has considerable influence over Shiite militias and political structures in Iraq, while the US is trying to push back against this influence.