Electoral commission rejects bid to disqualify Taqaddum Party leader Halbousi

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission on Monday rejected a complaint filed by Azm Alliance leader Muthanna Al-Samarrai seeking to disqualify Mohammed Al-Halbousi, head of the Taqaddum Party, from running in the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for Nov. 11, 2025. Both Al-Samarrai and Al-Halbousi are Sunni leaders.

A document showed the commission’s response, confirming that Halbousi remains eligible and will continue as candidate number one on his party’s list in Baghdad.

Halbousi, who served as parliament speaker 2018 until his dismissal on Nov. 14, 2023, has faced past legal challenges. Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court removed him from office after a lawmaker accused him of forging a resignation letter. On June 12, 2025, his media office announced that “the Iraqi judiciary acquitted” him of those charges, saying the courts dismissed the complaints and closed the investigation.

IHEC said Sunday that 627 candidates have been excluded from the upcoming y elections, leaving 7,440 still in the race. According to official data, 290 candidates were disqualified under the Justice and Accountability Law, while 337 others faced issues tied to criminal records, forged or missing documents, and other irregularities. The commission said 15 were removed based on recommendations from the Supreme Judicial Council, 10 from the Christian quota, and 163 through substitution requests from political lists.