Iraqi Assyrian bloc demands representation based on election results in new cabinet

Iraq’s Assyrian Suyana parliamentary bloc has called for fair political representation in the formation of the country’s next federal government, warning against efforts to sideline the Assyrian vote through political bargaining or power-sharing arrangements that ignore election outcomes.

During a press conference in Baghdad, MP Kaldo Ramzi stated that Assyrian participation in the incoming cabinet must reflect the “real parliamentary weight” produced through the ballot box rather than backroom agreements among larger political factions. The statement comes as Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi continues negotiations over ministerial allocations and cabinet formation.

The Suyana bloc currently holds three of the five parliamentary seats reserved for Iraq’s Assyrian community, making it the largest Assyrian political grouping in parliament. The remaining two seats belong to the Babylon Movement, led by Rayan al-Kildani, whose organization is closely aligned with the Coordination Framework and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

Ramzi emphasized that genuine national partnership cannot be achieved if minority communities are marginalized during government formation. He argued that Assyrian representation should be based on electoral legitimacy and constitutional rights, not imposed political settlements.

Under Iraq’s electoral system, five quota seats are reserved for Assyrians across Baghdad, Nineveh, Kirkuk, Erbil, and Duhok. These seats are intended to preserve minority representation within Iraq’s 329-member parliament. However, outside influence and bloc-backed candidates have continued to raise concerns among Assyrians.