Iraqi parliament holds second session to elect Speaker

File photo

Winning MPs to vote for speaker and his 2 deputies

The Iraqi parliament on Saturday held its second session to elect the parliament speaker and his two deputies.

A source from within the parliament told Anadolu Agency that after the winning MPs are sworn in they will vote for the speaker of the house of representatives and his two deputies.

The source, preferring not to be named because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said the Iraqi security forces inside parliament prevented the media from entering the building without giving any reasons.

Earlier this month, the newly-elected parliament postponed the election of a new assembly speaker to mid-September after a number of lawmakers decided to boycott the vote.

Attended by only 85 of 329 MPs, the first session saw fierce disagreements between rival coalitions (Al-Bina and Reform Construction), both of which claimed to have attained a majority bloc in the assembly.

Under Iraq’s constitution, the majority bloc in parliament has the right to draw up the country’s next government.

Among the most prominent nominees for the post of speaker is Osama al-Nujaifi and Mohamed al-Halbusi.

According to results of Iraq’s May 12 parliamentary poll, Muqtada al-Sadr's Sairoon Coalition won 54 seats, followed by a Hashd al-Shaabi-led coalition (47 seats) and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's Victory Bloc (42 seats).