KRG Prime Minister Congratulates Mahmoud al-Mashhadani on Election as Iraqi Parliament Speaker
In a phone call on Friday, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masrour Barzani, extended his congratulations to Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani on his recent election as Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives. Al-Mashhadani secured the position with 182 votes out of 271 in a second-round vote, ending a prolonged leadership vacuum in the Iraqi parliament.
In a statement released by the KRG media office, Prime Minister Barzani expressed his hopes for al-Mashhadani’s success, acknowledging the importance of his upcoming responsibilities. "The Prime Minister at the Kurdistan Region Government, Masrour Barzani, congratulated Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani in a phone call on the occasion of his election as Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, and wished him success in his duties,” the statement read.
Al-Mashhadani, in response, thanked Barzani for his congratulations and expressed his commitment to upholding the Iraqi constitution and working towards resolving ongoing issues between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government. His election is expected to be a stabilizing factor as Iraq addresses internal political challenges and key government functions.
تحدثتُ اليوم إلى الدكتور محمود المشهداني وهنأته بمناسبة انتخابه رئيساً لمجلس النواب الاتحادي، متمنياً له التوفيق والنجاح في أداء مهامه.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) November 1, 2024
وأكد رئيس مجلس النواب على دعمه ومساندته لتطبيق الدستور بما يحل المشاكل العالقة بين إقليم كوردستان والحكومة الاتحادية.
Who is Mahmoud al-Mashhadani?
Born in 1948 in Baghdad’s Kadhimiya district, Mahmoud Dawood al-Mashhadani is a veteran politician and doctor. He graduated from the College of Medicine at Baghdad University in 1972, later becoming a vocal critic of the Baath regime, which led to his imprisonment in 1981.
A founding member of the National Dialogue Council, al-Mashhadani joined Iraq’s political landscape actively in 2004, contributing to the constitution-drafting committee. He first served as Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament in 2006 and returned to parliamentary service in 2021. His re-election as Speaker on October 31, 2024, marks a significant milestone in his political career, as he takes on a critical role in Iraq’s legislative body amid a challenging political climate.
