Sunni Political Council Urges President to Set Parliament’s First Session Before December 29

Peregraf- The National Sunni Political Council has called on the President of the Republic to promptly set a date for the first session of Iraq’s new Council of Representatives, urging that it be convened before the constitutional deadline of December 29, 2025, in accordance with Article 54 of the Constitution.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the council said its leadership met in Baghdad at the headquarters of Muthanna al-Samarrai, head of the Azm Alliance, where they welcomed the Federal Supreme Court’s ratification of the final results of the parliamentary elections. The council also praised the efforts of the Independent High Electoral Commission and the Judicial Appeals Panel in completing the electoral process for the sixth parliamentary term.

The statement stressed the importance of continued communication and coordination with political partners to accelerate the formation of a new government capable of fulfilling the aspirations of the Iraqi people.

Earlier on Sunday, December 14, 2025, the Federal Supreme Court officially ratified the election results, paving the way for the next constitutional steps. Under the constitution, the President of the Republic is required to call the first session of parliament within 15 days of ratification (by December 29).

The first parliamentary session will be chaired by the oldest member, during which lawmakers will take the constitutional oath. In the same session, parliament will elect the Speaker and two deputies by an absolute majority vote (50 percent plus one). The post of Speaker is traditionally allocated to the Sunni component, with winning Sunni factions already holding consultations within a political council to agree on a consensus candidate.

Within 30 days of the first session, parliament must elect a new President of the Republic by a two-thirds majority, requiring 220 votes out of 329 MPs. The newly elected president will then task the largest parliamentary bloc—widely expected to be the Shia Coordination Framework—with forming the new government within 15 days. The designated prime minister will have 30 days to form and present the cabinet for parliamentary approval.