In a recent development, the Iraqi parliament has announced an extension of its first legislative term for 2024 by 30 days, with crucial matters on the agenda including the election of a new parliamentary speaker and an amendment to extend the term of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) by six months.

The parliament, originally set to commence its break on Friday, will now focus on resolving key leadership positions. Notably, the position of parliamentary speaker remains vacant following the Federal Supreme Court's decision to revoke Mohammed al-Halbousi's membership, citing allegations of document forgery.

Efforts to elect a new speaker earlier this year were stalled after candidates failed to secure an absolute majority, necessitating a second round that was never conducted. Under Iraq's sectarian power-sharing framework, the speaker's role is reserved for Sunni representation.

In addition to addressing the speaker vacancy, parliament is poised to vote on extending the IHEC's term to facilitate upcoming electoral processes, notably the Kurdistan Region's parliamentary election scheduled for June 10. However, the electoral commission's preparations have been temporarily halted pending a court ruling on a lawsuit filed by Kurdistan's Prime Minister Masrour Barzani regarding seat distribution.

The Coordination Framework, Iraq's largest parliamentary bloc, has urged Sunni factions to promptly fill the speaker's post, stressing the importance of maintaining key political positions within the country's governance structure.

This extension underscores the ongoing challenges facing Iraq's political landscape, particularly as the nation seeks to navigate critical electoral and leadership transitions amid complex regional dynamics.