Iraq's parliament has elected a new speaker after months of political paralysis. Sunni lawmaker Ayad al-Samarraie won Sunday with 153 votes, far ahead of the runner-up candidate with just 36 votes. Al-Samarraie is a member of parliament's finance committee.
Samarraie was the leading contender when parliament tried to elect a new speaker in February but fell just two votes short in the contest for the post, which under Iraq's constitution is reserved for a Sunni.
The decision ends a nearly four-month impasse over picking a successor for Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, who resigned late last year amid widespread complaints about his behavior. The stalemate left parliament unable to address a number of crucial reforms, such as passing laws governing oil and gas investments.
