Iraqi parliament set to choose president and PM soon
Iraq’s parliament is preparing to elect a new president, with the next prime minister expected to be Nouri al-Maliki following his endorsement by the largest Shiite bloc. By tradition, the prime minister is a Shiite, the speaker is Sunni, and the presidency goes to a Kurd. Haibat al-Halbussi announced that parliament will convene to elect the president, after which the president will appoint the prime minister. The process involves complex negotiations among Iraq’s major political parties and alliances.
What we know
- Haibat al-Halbussi stated that parliament will meet to elect a new president, who will then appoint a prime minister.
- The Coordination Framework alliance endorsed Nouri al-Maliki as the next prime minister.
- The prime minister is usually nominated by the largest Shiite bloc formed through post-election alliances.
- Kurdish parties have not yet agreed on a presidential candidate; both the PUK and KDP have put forward names.
- Forming a new government in Iraq is challenging and could take months, as it requires balancing internal politics and external influences from Iran and the United States.
