ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Reconstruction and Development Coalition (RDC), the largest parliamentary group led by former Iraqi premier Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, announced Monday its decision to boycott legislative sessions until disciplinary actions are taken against a lawmaker for engaging in derogatory remarks against the bloc and its leader.
Their statement described the “systematic abuses and irresponsible behavior” of the lawmaker in question as attitudes “falling within malicious smearing campaigns and systematic targeting” against the bloc and “its leadership.”
The bloc previously submitted “an official memorandum” to the parliament speaker demanding the referral of the lawmaker to the “parliamentary ethics committee” after which” no practical action was taken, which encouraged further abuses,” their statement read, asking the parliament speaker and his deputies to take “a firm and responsible stance to put an end to these practices.”
The RDC emerged as the frontrunner in the November 2025 elections, securing 46 seats to become the largest parliamentary bloc in the 329-seat Iraqi legislature. However, a source within the coalition told Rudaw’s Hastyar Qadir on Monday that their current strength has dropped to 37 seats after internal splits and factional departures, particularly following the withdrawal of two major factions in May.
The same source also explained to Rudaw that the underlying reason for the suspension of parliamentary sessions was “mainly related to statements made by a representative from a Shiite bloc” against Sudani’s government (2022-2026).
Accordingly, the RDC said Monday that the suspension will resume until legal procedures are enforced in accordance with the council’s [parliament] internal regulations, ensuring an end to these violations, safeguarding the dignity of parliamentary work, and preserving respect for political forces and their leaderships.”
Of relevant note, the ongoing anti-corruption campaign dubbed Operation Dawn by the current Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and the Federal Integrity Commission has already targeted individuals with familial, social, and political links to Sudani.
Kicking off with the arrest of Adnan al-Jumaili, an senior official who was appointed and served under Sudani’s government, the campaign subsequently expanded to seize properties of his brother, Abbas Shia al-Sudani, alongside his extended tribal chief Sheikh Mohammed al-Sayhood - who was later released on bail.
Furthermore, at least five lawmakers in the RDC or close to Sudani have been arrested during the anti-corruption bust. Two, Alia Nassif Jassim and Ashwaq Salem Hassan, were sentenced to seven years in prison in September for engaging in illicit enrichment activities. The verdicts also included returning the embezzled money.
The campaign nonetheless targeted other politicians, lawmakers, and key figures in Shiite as well as Sunni factions. In late August, the government announced that the value of the seized funds and assets has exceeded one billion dollars.
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
