Basra MP Amer Al-Fayez to lead first session of new parliament

BAGHDAD — The Independent High Electoral Commission announced Tuesday that Amer Al-Fayez, a member of parliament representing Basra, will preside over the first session of Iraq’s new legislative term as the oldest elected member.

According to a statement, Al-Fayez was born on Oct. 25, 1948, and won his seat representing the Tasmim Alliance in Basra. He will lead the inaugural session of the sixth term of parliament, scheduled for December 29.

Under the Iraqi constitution, the first session of a new parliament is chaired by the eldest elected member until a speaker is elected.

Earlier in day,  Iraq’s president issued a decree calling the new Council of Representatives into its first session on Dec. 29, in the latest formal step after the Federal Supreme Court ratified the final results of the Nov. 11 parliamentary elections.

The Supreme Judicial Council on Sunday set out the constitutional timetable for forming the next government following the Federal Supreme Court’s ratification of the final results of the 2025 parliamentary elections.

The council said political forces must then elect a president of the republic within 30 days of the first parliamentary session. If the first session is held on Dec. 29, the deadline to elect the president would be Jan. 28, 2026. The president must then name a prime minister-designate within 15 days of being elected, which would set a deadline of Feb. 12, 2026, if the presidency vote takes place on Jan. 28.

The Nov. 11 vote was Iraq’s sixth parliamentary election since 2003 and was held in general and special voting rounds across the country’s 18 constituencies.