ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Shiite Coordination Framework, the largest bloc in the Iraqi legislature, has called for a parliament session to be held next week to fill the speaker position after nearly a year of political deadlock.

In a meeting attended by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and other Coordination Framework leaders at the office of Ammar al-Hakim, leader of Hikma Movement, the bloc called for a parliamentary session on Saturday “to decide on the speakership of the Council [of Representatives] and put an end to the vacancy of this important position throughout the past period.”

Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court in November 2023 revoked the parliamentary membership of Sunni strongman Mohammed al-Halbousi and ousted him from the post of speaker. Muhsin al-Mandalawi, Halbousi’s deputy, has been filling the position as acting speaker since.

Several sessions have been held to vote on a new speaker but to no avail as none of the nominees were able to garner enough support from the lawmakers.

The leaders also discussed Iraqi and regional developments, reiterating their support for the Palestinian and Lebanese people in the face of the Israeli aggression. They urged the government to continue dispatching humanitarian and to continue its political support through the consultations with different parties and states to put an end to the war in Gaza and Lebanon.

Iraq’s upcoming national census and the government’s efforts in arresting suspects and enforcing security were also highlighted in the meeting.