BAGHDAD, May 19 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi parliament failed yesterday, to elect a new speaker, due to wrangling between parliamentary political blocs.
The parliament’s Acting Speaker, Mohsen al-Mandalawi, adjourned the session until further notice, after the third round of voting ended in failure.
The session was chaired by al-Mandalawi, with the attendance of 311 lawmakers, out of the parliament’s 329 seats, to elect a new speaker, to replace Mohammed al-Halbousi, who was sacked six months ago over legal violations.
According to a statement by its media office, parliament first convened to hold a second direct ballot, which showed Salim al-Eisawi came first with 158 votes, followed by former speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani with 137 votes.
The second round of voting came after parliament failed in the first round, on Jan 14, to elect a new speaker.
According to Iraqi law, if a candidate fails to gain an absolute majority of parliament seats, which is 50 percent plus one, or 166 votes, another round of direct secret ballot will be held, for the competing candidates.
As no candidate met the election criteria in the second round, parliament had to proceed with a third round of voting. But, shortly after the lawmakers entered the hall, a fight broke out among them, prompting al-Mandalawi to adjourn the session.– NNN-NINA