In the wake of Iraq's Federal Supreme Court's recent decision to oust Mohammed al-Halbousi from the position of the parliament's speaker, the Iraqi parliament is set to convene on Wednesday to address the crucial matter of electing a new speaker. The parliamentary session, scheduled to commence at 1:00 PM, is expected to open the floor for nominations, although as of now, there is no official announcement regarding a consensus candidate.

Under Iraq's sectarian power-sharing system, the post of the parliament's speaker is traditionally reserved for the Sunnis, with the prime minister position designated for the Shiites and the presidency for the Kurds.

Safwan Bashir Younis, the secretary general of the Iraqi parliament, acknowledged that no agreement has been reached on a new speaker. He stated that if an agreement is not reached during the session, the nomination process will be initiated. The vote to elect a new parliament speaker will then be scheduled after the provincial council elections set for December 18.

The decision to remove Halbousi, a prominent Sunni figure, stems from accusations of forging the parliamentary resignation of another Sunni lawmaker in 2022 by altering the date on the document. This ruling has cast a shadow over Iraq's upcoming provincial council elections, with the potential to delay the vote if a new speaker is not elected promptly.

The term of the electoral commission responsible for overseeing the provincial council elections is set to expire on December 7. If the parliament fails to extend the commission's term before this date, there is a risk of a postponement in the scheduled elections.

In the absence of Halbousi, the Iraqi parliament held its first session last week, with Muhsin al-Mandalawi, the First Deputy Speaker, presiding over the meeting. The uncertainty surrounding the election of a new speaker adds to the political complexities faced by Iraq, as it navigates through the aftermath of the court's decision and seeks to maintain stability in the lead-up to crucial elections. The international community will closely observe the developments as Iraq's political landscape unfolds in the coming days.