Sunni blocs unite as Iraq braces to elect new speaker, president, premier

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Leaders of Iraq’s Sunni Arab political blocs announced on Sunday the formation of a “National Political Council,” aimed at unifying their positions amid negotiations over forming the next federal government and electing Iraq’s upcoming parliament speaker, president and prime minister.

The agreement followed a meeting in Baghdad, bringing together the Takaddum Front, led by former parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi (2018–2023); the Sovereignty Alliance, headed by prominent politician Khamis al-Khanjar; and the Azm Front, led by businessman and politician Muthanna al-Samarrai.

Also joining the Council are the National Hasm Alliance, led by caretaker Defense Minister Thabet al-Abbasi, and the National Masses Party, headed by Ahmed al-Jabouri, former governor of the predominantly Sunni Salahaddin province.

In a joint statement, the leaders said the Council will “coordinate positions and unify visions and decisions on major national issues” and “enhance joint action to serve the public interest and improve political performance.”

They added that the Council will be “open to all national partners and committed to principles that safeguard Iraq’s unity and stability, and preserve the rights of all its components without exception.”

Importantly, the parties agreed that the Council will meet regularly throughout the legislature’s tenure and called on supporters to “back this responsible national step aimed at unifying efforts and achieving aspirations for a new phase of stability and reconstruction.”

Iraq held its early legislative ballot on November 9, followed by the general vote on November 11.

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced the final results on Monday, with Takaddum securing 27 seats in the 329-member parliament, Azm 15, Sovereignty nine, Hasm five, and the National Masses three.

Since the 2003 US-led invasion, Iraq’s informal ethno-sectarian system has allocated the premiership to Shiites, the speakership to Sunni Arabs, and the presidency to Kurds.

Under the Iraqi constitution, the new parliament must convene with a two-thirds quorum, led by the eldest legislator as acting speaker. Parliament then elects a speaker, followed by the president through a secret ballot requiring a two-thirds majority in the first round or a simple majority in a runoff. The largest parliamentary bloc nominates the prime minister-designate, who is tasked with forming the next government.

The establishment of a Council among Sunni blocs follows Iraq’s ruling Shiite Coordination Framework announcing on Monday that it had formed the largest bloc in parliament - a key step for naming the next prime minister.

Notably, the Sunni blocs’ efforts also came after a senior Takaddum Front figure told Rudaw on Monday that the presidency should not be reserved for Kurds. Razzaq al-Obaidi argued that “there is no constitutional provision that assigns specific leadership posts to any component or sect.”