Al Jazeera: Chaotic scenes as Iraq’s new parliament holds first session
The speaker selection process was disrupted as competing political blocs claimed to hold a parliamentary majority.
Iraq’s new parliament has re-elected its speaker for a second term, the first step towards forming a new government after a general election whose results have been contested by powerful Iran-backed factions.
In a reflection of the tensions, the new parliament’s first session on Sunday was marked by disarray, with the eldest member, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, being evacuated to the hospital after falling ill.
The chaotic meeting ushers in what is likely to be a lengthy period of political wrangling among rival groups to choose a new president and a prime minister.
As the leader of the biggest bloc, Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr has the upper hand in forming a new government. But he will have to manage tensions with rival Shia groups that continue to reject the election results and are demanding to have a say in the government formation process.
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Update #1: New Iraqi Parliament's 1st Session Marked by Disarray (AP)
Update #2: Iraq's new parliament elects speaker in first step towards establishing a govt (Reuters)
WNU Editor: Another Iraqi parliamentary opening session. Another day of chaos. It looks like nothing has changed.
1 comment:
I am growing more convinced by the day that allowing anyone to vote by virtue of 1) breathing, and 2) having been born in the specific country, are not enough qualification to be allowed to have a say in local or national governance.
Of course, in the United States, even those two requirements are considered onerous and 'undemocratic' now.
I am coming to the thought that you need to have a stake in what's going to happen. That could mean being a property owner, having children, or something else that that makes you worry about the future.
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