‘Our Game is Politics’: Al-Mashhadani reflects on path to speaker role

BAGHDAD — Newly elected Speaker of Parliament Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani has dismissed claims that personal ambition drove his return to the position, emphasizing his experience and the need for seasoned leadership in Iraq’s political landscape.

In an interview with Sharqiya TV, Al-Mashhadani said his election reflects the importance of experienced leadership in a predominantly youthful parliament. “We aren’t playing chess here; our game is politics, and we, the elders, are skilled at this game,” he stated. He also voiced support for a future female speaker, arguing such a leader would garner added respect. Reflecting on Iraq’s broader political dynamics, Al-Mashhadani advocated for moving beyond sectarianism. “Iraq’s destiny will only stabilize when it abandons sectarian discourse,” he added.

Iraq’s parliament elected Al-Mashhadani as its speaker last Thursday, ending nearly a year-long vacancy and months of political stalemate following the judiciary’s removal of former speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi last November. Al-Mashhadani’s election is seen as a step toward resolving some of Iraq’s ongoing political impasses.

Supported by a coalition of Sunni parties, the Shia Coordination Framework, and Kurdish factions, Al-Mashhadani secured 182 votes out of the 269 members present in the decisive round. The first round featured four candidates—Salem Al-Issawi, Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, Talal Zobaie, and Amer Abdul Jabbar—but no candidate achieved the majority needed to win. Al-Mashhadani led with 153 votes, followed by Al-Issawi with 95, Abdul Jabbar with 9, and 14 invalid ballots.

Excerpts from Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani’s interview with Sharqiya TV:

My arrival to the position of speaker of parliament was neither by luck nor insistence. It was a normal progression; I joined the Sunni majority within the bloc of 55 deputies. I told them I would step back if the door to nominations were reopened, as this would be a courteous gesture from the Coordination Framework signaling that I had received my fair chance in the competition. However, the brothers unanimously informed us to forget about reopening nominations or adding any new names, so what justification would I have now to withdraw?

I knew I would take on this role a year ago. There are unseen matters I prefer not to discuss, yet there were three people who saw me in their dreams as the speaker of parliament. They shared these visions with me, and I smiled. God’s will prevails over everything, but I also handled the matter professionally.

We aren’t playing chess here; our game is politics, and we, the elders, are skilled at this game. How could you manage parliament with a young speaker if most of the members are young? With an elder speaker, they would calm down a bit, and if a woman were to take the role, it would be even better since we respect women more.

I suggested to the brothers that they should consider one of the respected women to lead parliament. No one would overstep her boundaries, shout in her face, or ‘strike her with a bottle.’

The Coordination Framework required five characteristics for any candidate for the position of speaker: no foreign affiliations, a clean record without ties to terrorism, exclusion from accountability and justice procedures, absence of pending terrorism cases, along with experience and balanced relationships with everyone.

I have no issues with the Sunnis, nor with the Coordination Framework, and my assumption of the speaker role is not a retirement present. The Framework didn’t initially support me, as evidenced by my receiving only 48 votes in the first round.

My journey in the competition for the speaker position has an intimidating aspect. I am exhausted, and I don’t want to end my life in failure, especially amid the volatile regional conditions. But I have no choice but to continue, out of concern for the interests of our community.

No one can hold me accountable for my ‘old garment’ from the days of sectarian war; those days have passed. Then came ISIS, which taught us a profound lesson, and we became ‘reasonable and kind.’ Now, we love our people because they stood in the line of fire, and we are now striving to shift toward a state of citizenship, moving away from sectarian discourse.

Iraq’s destiny will only stabilize when it abandons sectarian discourse. A state based on citizenship is the solution, where the citizen becomes the building block, and competency becomes the standard. However, this initiative didn’t materialize in 2013 after ISIS came, although ISIS brought one positive outcome: the sects returned with mutual love.

We cannot impose candidates for the speaker role on the Shia community, as they are the majority with 180 deputies, and they have the right to reject any figure they see as unsuitable. Thus, consensus democracy remains the best option for the Sunni component.