Sunni blocs inch closer to agreement on speaker

The effort to reach consensus on a new parliament speaker remains fraught with difficulties, yet this week’s developments indicate shifting dynamics within the Sunni political landscape.

In a video statement released on Monday, Nouri Al-Maliki addressed the ongoing deadlock, attempting to refute allegations that Shia elites in the Coordination Framework have intentionally delayed the process in order to keep the speakership vacant. According to Maliki, the Coordination Framework tasked him with mediating between the rival Sunni blocs, and despite initial progress toward an agreement, the deal unexpectedly fell through. The crux of the proposal involved Halbusi’s Taqaddum Party conceding one of its three ministerial posts in exchange for reclaiming the speaker position. However, disagreement among Taqaddum’s rivals over which party would assume the vacated ministry appears to have derailed the arrangement.

Parallel to these developments, Sunni politician Mishan Al-Juburi suggested a potential realignment of the Sunni blocs. Following meetings with key Sunni figures—including Halbusi, Rafi Al-Eisawi, Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, and Ziyad Al-Janabi—Juburi indicated that Mashhadani expressed a willingness to withdraw his candidacy in favor of a compromise candidate. This signaled a potential shift in Sunni political calculations, with Mashhadani potentially stepping aside to facilitate a broader agreement.

Complicating matters further, during a Coordination Framework meeting on Tuesday, Halbusi formally proposed the introduction of a new candidate on behalf of 55 MPs. Halbusi’s strategy hinges on backing from smaller Sunni coalitions, including Abu Mazin’s Jamahir, Thabit Al-Abbasi’s Hasm, and the Azm breakaway group Sadara. The likely candidate in question is Ziyad Al-Janabi, chair of the parliamentary integrity committee and a former Taqaddum member. In June, a group of eight Taqaddum MPs led by Janabi announced their defection from the party and the formation of a new parliamentary bloc called Mubadara (Initiative).