ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq’s National Political Council, which brings together Sunni political forces, on Sunday called on the president to quickly set a date for the first session of parliament and speed up the formation of a new government.

In a statement, the council said it held a meeting Sunday evening at the headquarters of Azm Alliance leader Muthanna al-Samarrai in Baghdad, attended by leaders of the parties and alliances that make up the council.

The council welcomed the Federal Supreme Court’s approval of the election results and praised the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) and the judicial electoral body for completing the voting process for the sixth parliamentary term.

According to the statement, the meeting discussed constitutional steps and the council’s vision for forming the next government, its program, and the challenges ahead. Participants stressed the need to coordinate with political partners to quickly form a government capable of meeting public demands and to set clear priorities for the government’s agenda.

The council urged the president to set a date for the first parliamentary session and to oversee the election of the speaker and his two deputies. It proposed that the session be held before December 25, in line with Article 54 of the constitution.

Mohammed Dahham, a member of the Azm Alliance, told The New Region that “Sunni political forces are close to agreeing on a candidate for parliament speaker.” He said a broad meeting including all Sunni forces that won seats in the recent elections was expected later Sunday to reach a final consensus and end internal differences

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Dahham said the general atmosphere among Sunni parties is positive, with a strong desire to prioritize consensus and partnership over personal or factional interests. He said the current stage requires a unified Sunni position to support political stability in Iraq.

He added that the upcoming talks would include in-depth discussions on the proposed candidates, based on competence, experience, and the ability to manage the next phase, especially amid legislative and oversight challenges facing parliament.

Dahham said resolving the issue of the speaker’s nomination would send reassuring signals to the Iraqi public and political partners, adding that the coming hours are expected to be decisive, with positive outcomes likely once the meeting concludes.

Modeled after the Shiite Coordination Framework, the National Political Council is an umbrella group of Sunni parties, announced in late November by Sunni leaders from Taqaddum, Azm, the Sovereignty Alliance, Hasm al-Watani, and the National Masses Party.

Concurrent with the Sunnis' efforts to come to an understanding regarding the parliament speaker position, the Coordination Framework is also aiming to finalize the selection of a candidate for the country's prime minister, a post that traditionally goes to the Shiite