Taqaddum’s al-Halbousi: Ballots not bullets will shape Iraq’s next government
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The head of Taqaddum Alliance, former parliament speaker, Mohammed al-Halbousi, said Iraq’s next government will be shaped by political consensus rather than armed pressure.
Al-Halbousi was dismissed in November 2023 over corruption allegations, however, Iraq’s judiciary acquitted him, dismissing all complaints, annulling the charges, and closing the investigation with final approval from the Federal Cassation Court. His alliance is a leading Sunni political alliance with its base in al-Anbar and growing influence in Baghdad, Diyala, and Nineveh. The party secured 37 of the roughly 70 seats allocated to Sunni-majority areas in the 2021 parliamentary elections.
Speaking to Al-Hadath TV, al-Halbousi expressed his party’s "respect" for the Shiite right to nominate the prime minister, stressing that no dialogue will take place with armed groups outside state authority.
"Like Shia, Sunni Arab representatives must also approve any nominees for the presidency or parliament speakership."
He further warned that opposition to his party is externally sponsored and insisted that political forces should work within society, not seek confrontation. Al-Halbousi added that the slogan “We Are a Nation” reflects a country-wide agenda his party aims to deliver.
Reaffirming his political stance “under any pressure,” al-Halbousi rejected efforts by foreign or domestic rivals to undermine his movement ahead of elections.
Iraq’s parliamentary elections are set for November 11, with special voting on November 9, for members of the security forces and other designated groups. The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) says 21.4 million Iraqis are eligible to vote.
Read more: Iraq’s 2025 Parliamentary Elections — What You Need to Know
