Iraq parliament opens new session

Iraq’s newly elected parliament held its opening session, formally launching the constitutional process to form a new government after the November national vote. Lawmakers elected Sunni MP Haibat al-Halbousi as speaker, with Halbousi receiving 208 of 283 votes, a position that gives him a central role in maintaining order, mediating disputes and helping broker the cross-sectarian consensus needed in Iraq’s fragmented political system.

Under constitutional rules, the chamber must also choose two deputies and then nominate a president within 30 days; the president will task the largest parliamentary bloc with forming the next government. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s bloc emerged from the election as the largest, positioning it to be asked to put together a cabinet, though coalition talks are expected to be protracted. Forming a government will require balancing competing domestic coalitions as well as regional influences, notably the competing interests of the United States and Iran and the presence of dozens of Iran-aligned militia groups that complicate political alignments.

The opening sitting was largely procedural: members were sworn in and interim arrangements were made while party leaders begin negotiations over leadership posts and coalition agreements. Political statements emphasized priorities such as anti-corruption measures, economic reform and service delivery, but analysts and observers warned that entrenched patronage networks and sectarian fault lines have historically slowed implementation of campaign pledges.

Security was tight in Baghdad during the session, reflecting concerns about potential unrest or spoilers, though the election period saw fewer violent incidents than some past cycles. Outgoing officials and international actors urged swift but inclusive bargaining to avoid the lengthy stalemates that have in the past delayed budget approvals and critical reforms. The pace of coalition-building and the composition of the new cabinet will determine whether the incoming government can quickly address pressing economic strains, unemployment and public service failures or fall into another extended impasse.