BAGHDAD -- The Iraqi Council of Representatives (parliament) elected Haibet al-Halbousi on Monday as its new speaker, marking a major step in the formation of the new government.

The election followed a voting process presided over by lawmaker Amer al-Fayez. Al-Halbousi emerged victorious after securing the required absolute majority of votes.

Al-Halbousi garnered 208 votes out of the 309 lawmakers who attended the session of the 329-seat parliament. His main competitor, Salem al-Essawi, got 66 votes, while Amer Abdul Jabbar 9 votes, in addition to 26 invalid papers.

The election is a crucial step that triggers the next phase of the constitutional timeline for appointing the nation's leadership.

Al-Halbousi is an Iraqi politician, born in 1980 in western Iraq's Anbar province. He holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in political science from the Mustansiriyah University in Baghdad.

He served as chairman of the Oil and Energy Committee in the Iraqi parliament during its fourth session from 2018 to 2022. He is regarded as one of the prominent leaders within the Taqaddum (Progress) Party, chaired by his brother and former Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi.