Ahmed Abdul-Dulaimi, a member of the United Anbar Alliance, confirmed on Sunday that MP Salem Al-Issawi has dropped out of the race to be Speaker of the Council of Representatives.
“The heads of the Sovereignty Alliance, Khamis Al-Khanjar and Al-Azm Muthanna Al-Samarrai, withdrew their support for Al-Issawi, paving the way for his competitor Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani to win the position,” Al-Dulaimi reported.
“Al-Halbousi informed the leader of the State of Law, Nouri Al-Maliki, of his nomination of Al-Mashhadani, awaiting the opinion of the forces of the Coordination Framework to pass it or object to his nomination,” he continued, “talks to elect a Speaker of Parliament have become limited between the forces of the Coordination Framework and the Progress Party.”
“The Coordination Framework does not want to impose any personality on the Sunni component, as it is waiting for the presentation of a personality that is acceptable to all Sunni forces for approval,” he stated.
