Parliament names CF-backed Adnan Fayhan first Iraqi deputy speaker

Shafaq News– Baghdad (Updated at 19:08)

On Monday, Iraq’s parliament elected Adnan Fayhan as the first deputy speaker during the first session of the newly elected legislature.

According to a statement from parliament, Babil Governor Fayhan was chosen for the post over Mohsin Al-Mandalawi, head of the National Foundation (Al-Asas) Coalition, after lawmakers selected Haibat Al-Halbousi as speaker of parliament.

Fayhan secured 177 votes, Al-Mandalawi received 107 votes, while 22 ballots were invalid.

Asaib Ahl Al-Haq, which is represented in parliament by the Sadiqoun bloc, is now expected to nominate Ali Turki to succeed Fayhan as governor of Babil, sources said.

Parliamentary sources earlier told Shafaq News that leaders of the Shiite Coordination Framework (CF), parliament’s largest bloc, backed Fayhan’s candidacy following the withdrawal of State of Law Coalition (SLC) leader Yasser Al-Maliki from the race.

Separately, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) nominated Shakhawan Abdullah for the position of second deputy speaker as part of parallel political arrangements.

Monday’s session marked the first sitting of the new parliament after the quorum was reached with the attendance of 292 lawmakers.

Under Article 55 of Iraq’s constitution, parliament must elect its speaker and two deputies in its first session. By post-2003 political convention, the speaker is a Sunni, the first deputy a Shiite, and the second deputy a Kurd.