2021–2022 Iraqi political crisis
Between the parliamentary election in October 2021 and October 2022, there was a political crisis in Iraq, with members of the Council of Representatives of Iraq being unable to form a stable coalition government, or elect a new President. Basic government services such as the civil service and military continued functioning, but the national political system was in deadlock including in respect of almost all major spending and taxation issues. On 27 October 2022, the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani was approved by the Council of Representatives. Events 2021 Violent clashes in Baghdad following the election and the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi began the crisis. On 18 November Muqtada al-Sadr said he would like to form a majority government. 2022 On 9 January, the newly elected parliament met for the first time in the Green Zone to elect the parliament speaker and two deputies. This first parliamentary session resulted in senior interim parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashahadani falling ill and being taken to hospital. Sunni lawmaker and current parliament speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi was re-elected for a second term, with deputies Shakhawan Abdulla from the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Hakim al-Zamili from the Sadrist Movement. Thus, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Sadrist Movement and Progress Party succeeded in filling those three positions due to the candidates of each bloc voting for each other. This resulted in the Shiite Pro-Iran factions in parliament to disregard the outcome and boasting they have 88 seats, which is more than the Sadrist Movement. Parliament was then temporarily suspended but later was able to resume again after a review by the Iraqi Supreme Court. According to the Constitution of Iraq a president must be selected within 30 days after the election of the parliament speaker. Incumbent Barham Salih was put forward by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan to run for a second term, while the Kurdistan Democratic Party selected former foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari to run for the post as the party's second putting forward of a president to the required parliamentary vote. On 13 June 2022, all 73 MPs from al-Sadr's bloc resigned from parliament. On 23 June, the Council of Representatives swore in 73 new members in their place. As a result, the Coordination Framework bloc, an alliance of Iran-backed parties led by Nouri al-Maliki, grew to 130 seats. On 17 July, secret recordings were leaked of Nouri al-Maliki, the former Prime Minister, in which he was criticising al-Sadr. This was reported to have been controversial and a factor in deepening the crisis. On 25 July, the framework nominated former minister and governor of Maysan Governorate Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani as prime minister. On 27 July, angry about the influence of Iran in Iraqi domestic governance, followers of al-Sadr breached the Green Zone and the Iraqi Parliament in Baghdad. After a public message by al-Sadr to "pray and go home," the crowd dispersed. Thousands of supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr had been camping in the parliament building since July 27. On