Debate Resurfaces Over Political Agreement After Al-Mashhadani Elected Iraqi Speaker

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani (Reuters)
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani (Reuters)
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Debate Resurfaces Over Political Agreement After Al-Mashhadani Elected Iraqi Speaker

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani (Reuters)
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani (Reuters)

Less than a week after the Iraqi parliament elected Mahmoud al-Mashhadani as speaker, the “political agreement” document has returned to the spotlight due to delays in its implementation caused by disagreements.

The speaker's position had been vacant for nearly a year after former speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi was dismissed by the Federal Supreme Court amid Sunni-Sunni and Sunni-Shiite tensions.

Al-Mashhadani, who had been competing for about nine months with four other candidates, including Salem al-Essawi, was elected with broad Sunni support and full backing from Shiite factions, as a key member of the Shiite Coordination Framework defended his candidacy.

A former Sunni politician and ex-MP told Asharq Al-Awsat that “practically, there is no Sunni-Sunni dispute over al-Mashhadani.”

“The issue is with his nomination process and the involvement of a Shiite party, which shouldn't be a factor, especially when Sunnis should have the right to choose their candidate based on sectarian quotas,” the source noted.

They added that “the delay in electing a speaker for a year was caused by Shiite forces insisting on a specific Sunni candidate, al-Mashhadani.”

“This sparked debate within the Sunni bloc, though all Sunnis, before this insistence, saw al-Mashhadani as one of the last respected historical Sunni leaders after 2003, often called 'the elder' because of his age,” the source noted.

The politician also pointed out that “Sunnis have key demands, which were part of the current government led by Mohamed Shia' al-Sudani, including the law on general amnesty, which is still being debated after being watered down, as well as the dissolution of the Accountability and Justice Commission and its shift to a judicial matter instead of being used against the Sunni community.”

At a meeting of the “State Administration Coalition” on Thursday evening, discussions on implementing the political agreement document resurfaced after the parliament resumed its sessions and extended its legislative term following the election of a new speaker.

According to sources, during the meeting, which included al-Sudani, al-Mashhadani, and leaders from the Shiite Coordination Framework, as well as Sunni and Kurdish representatives, Al-Siyada Alliance leader Khamis al-Khanjar presented the document.

He criticized the failure to implement Sunni demands, despite two years passing since the document was signed, and warned that further delays would have consequences.

Al-Khanjar, who recently resigned from the Al-Siyada party after being included in the Accountability and Justice file, had initially supported al-Mashhadani’s candidacy for speaker, despite backing his own candidate, Salem al-Essawi, earlier.



Lebanon Condemns Attacks on UN Peacekeeping Mission

 A United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy drives through the southern Lebanese area of Marjayoun on November 20, 2024, as the war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group continues. (AFP)
A United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy drives through the southern Lebanese area of Marjayoun on November 20, 2024, as the war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group continues. (AFP)
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Lebanon Condemns Attacks on UN Peacekeeping Mission

 A United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy drives through the southern Lebanese area of Marjayoun on November 20, 2024, as the war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group continues. (AFP)
A United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy drives through the southern Lebanese area of Marjayoun on November 20, 2024, as the war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group continues. (AFP)

Lebanon on Monday condemned attacks on the United Nations peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) stationed in its south, including last week's rocket strike in which four Italian soldiers were lightly injured.

The 10,000-strong multi-national UNIFIL mission is monitoring hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel, an area hit by fierce clashes between the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah party and Israeli forces.

Since Israel launched a ground campaign across the border against Hezbollah at the end of September, UNIFIL soldiers have suffered several attacks coming from both sides.

"Lebanon strongly condemns any attack on UNIFIL and calls on all sides to respect the safety, security of the troops and their premises," Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said during a conference in Rome.

Bou Habib spoke before attending a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Anagni, southeast of Rome, along with other colleagues from the Middle East, which was set to discuss conflicts in the region.

Bou Habib added: "Lebanon condemns recent attacks on the Italian contingent and deplores such unjustified hostilities."

Italy said Hezbollah was likely responsible for the attack carried out on Friday against its troops in UNIFIL.

Beirut's foreign minister called for implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended a previous war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 with a ceasefire that has faced challenges and violations over the years.

"Lebanon is ready to fulfil its obligations stipulated in the above-mentioned resolution," Bou Habib said.

"This literally means and I quote: 'There will be no weapons without the consent of the government of Lebanon and no authority other than that of the government of Lebanon'."

Hezbollah, militarily more powerful than Lebanon's regular army, says it is defending the country from Israeli aggression. It vows to keep fighting and says it will not lay down arms or allow Israel to achieve political gains on the back of the war.