Hanan Al-Fatlawi Arab Parliament became a historic milestone on Tuesday after Iraqi lawmaker Hanan Al-Fatlawisecured election as the fourth deputy speaker of the Arab Parliament. Her victory marks the first time a woman has held the position since the institution began operating in 2012. The election also highlights Iraq’s growing role in regional parliamentary affairs.
Members of the Arab Parliament elected Al-Fatlawi after she completed two consecutive terms in the organization. Iraqi parliamentary officials said the majority of members supported her candidacy during the voting session.
According to the Iraqi Parliament, the result reflects Iraq’s increasing influence in Arab and international institutions. Officials also praised Al-Fatlawi for strengthening parliamentary cooperation between Iraq and other Arab countries throughout her service.
Al-Fatlawi was born in Babil Governorate in 1968. She entered national politics in 2005 after joining Iraq’s Transitional National Assembly. That assembly played a key role in drafting Iraq’s post-2003 constitution.
Her political career continued to gain momentum over the following years. In 2014, she won more than 90,000 votes during Iraq’s parliamentary elections in Babil Governorate. That result made her the highest vote-winning woman in Iraq’s electoral history at the time.
Furthermore, Al-Fatlawi founded the Irada Movement in 2015. Consequently, she became the first woman to lead a political party represented inside Iraq’s parliament.
Today, she serves as a senior member of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition. Former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani leads the coalition, which remains an influential political alliance in Iraq.
Following her election in Cairo, Al-Fatlawi described the victory as more than a personal achievement. Instead, she called it a success for Iraq, Iraqi women, and Arab women alike.
She expressed pride in representing Iraq in one of the Arab world’s leading parliamentary institutions. Moreover, she pledged to strengthen Iraq’s presence in regional and international forums throughout her term.
Hanan Al-Fatlawi Arab Parliament also symbolizes greater female representation in regional politics. Al-Fatlawi noted that no woman had held the deputy speaker position for more than four years. Therefore, she described the election as an important step toward broader participation by women in Arab political institutions.
Additionally, she thanked Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi for supporting her nomination. She also expressed gratitude to Iraqi and Arab members of the Arab Parliament who voted in her favor.
Al-Fatlawi promised to work closely with fellow members to advance issues affecting Arab societies. She also committed to ensuring Iraq’s perspectives remain visible during regional discussions and international engagements.
Reflecting on her previous service, she said she spent the last four years presenting Iraq’s views inside the Arab Parliament. She added that those efforts helped improve regional understanding of Iraq and its domestic developments.
Moreover, she highlighted the Arab Parliament’s previous session in Baghdad as an example of stronger cooperation between Iraq and Arab institutions. She believes similar initiatives can further strengthen regional partnerships.
Looking ahead, Al-Fatlawi pledged to continue promoting Iraq’s interests while supporting Arab cooperation. She emphasized dialogue, shared development, and stronger parliamentary partnerships as key priorities.
Her election also demonstrates Iraq’s expanding diplomatic and political engagement across the Arab world. Many observers believe her appointment could strengthen Iraq’s influence in future regional discussions.
As she begins her new responsibilities, Hanan Al-Fatlawi Arab Parliament stands as both a historic achievement and a symbol of Iraq’s growing role in Arab parliamentary diplomacy.
