DUBAI, UAE - Muthanna al-Samarrai, head of the Sunni Azm Alliance, has called on the Iraqi electoral body to block Taqadum Party leader Mohammed al-Halbousi from running in the November elections, accusing the former parliament speaker of using his position for personal and factional interests.

According to documents reviewed by The New Region, the request is based on the 2023 ruling by the Federal Supreme Court “that revoked his [Halbousi’s] membership in parliament for violating the provisions of the constitution and lacking the requirements of honesty, integrity, and good conduct.”

Samarrai also questioned the source of Halbousi’s wealth and criticized what he described as displays of extravagance.

“The court’s decision is final and binding,” Samarrai said. “Allowing someone removed by a judicial ruling to run again is a clear violation of the law and constitution. It also harms the prestige of parliament and weakens public trust in elections.”

He urged all sides to follow court rulings and protect Iraq’s democratic process.

In November 2023, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court issued a ruling removing Halbousi from his roles as both speaker of parliament and member of the legislature.

The court’s decision, which is final and not subject to appeal, followed allegations of forgery and abuse of power in a dispute with fellow lawmaker Laith al-Dulaimi.

Halbousi first entered Iraqi politics in 2014 and rose rapidly: appointed governor of Anbar in 2017, he became the youngest-ever speaker of the parliament in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022.

His leadership of the Progress (Taqadum) Party marked a shift toward Sunni political consolidation and reconstruction efforts, particularly in his home province of Anbar.

The Sunni strongman was accused of forging resignation letters to pressure MPs, monopolizing contracts, and building a patronage network, charging that he wielded his position for personal enrichment and political domination.