Iraq sets February 1 for presidential vote amid Kurdish rivalry

Iraq’s Parliament has scheduled February 1 to elect the country’s next president, following the postponement of an earlier session.

The seventh parliamentary session, set to begin at 11:00 a.m. local time, will also include the swearing-in of several lawmakers, the official agenda shows, INA reports.

Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi had postponed the January 27 session after formal requests from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), who sought additional time for consultations over the presidential post.

Under Iraq’s informal post-2003 power-sharing arrangement, the presidency is reserved for a Kurdish figure and is traditionally contested between the KDP and the PUK.

On December 29, Iraq’s parliament elected a new chairman, initiating a 30-day constitutional countdown during which MPs are required to elect a president. Following this, the president is tasked with instructing the largest parliamentary coalition to nominate a prime minister. On January 24, the Coordinating Council, which unites representatives from the majority of Shiite parties and blocs, officially nominated Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate for the premiership.

Under the Iraqi Constitution, the presidency is reserved for a Kurd, the prime ministership for a Shiite, and the parliamentary speaker for a Sunni. At present, 18 candidates are contending for the presidency, including current Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, who enjoys the backing of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

By Vafa Guliyeva