On Saturday 15 September, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) hailed the election the same day of Sunni parliamentarian Mohamed al-Halbusi as new Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, and the election of his two deputy speakers after weeks of blockage. The Iraqi elections were held on 12 May.
In a press release, the EEAS spokesperson said this was "the first, crucial step towards the formation of a new government in Iraq following the elections"....