ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister of the Kurdistan Region, has arrived in Baghdad for talks on Iraqi government formation and the question of who will become president.
Although the deadline for candidates to submit their nomination for the presidency is Sunday at 3 p.m., “that does not necessarily mean the president will be voted for on Tuesday,” Bashir Haddad, the KDP second deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, hinted on Saturday.
“The constitutional timeline allows a president to be elected until October 3,” he said.
The Iraqi parliament’s newly elected speaker, Mohamed al-Halbusi, was in Erbil earlier on Saturday to hold meetings with KDP President Masoud Barzani and security chief Masrour Barzani.
Months after Iraq’s May 12 parliamentary election, the country is still without a new government.
Last updated 11.31 p.m.
Barzani, who is deputy president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), met with Haider al-Abadi, the incumbent prime minister of Iraq, Shiite cleric Ammar al-Hakim, head of the Hikma Front, and Nouri al-Maliki, former Iraqi prime minister and head of State of Law.
Barzani and Maliki discussed candidates for the presidency, the State of Law leader's office said in statement.
Maliki stressed the need for political stability to provide services.
During his whirlwind visit, Barzani also met with Ataa Movement founder and former National Security Advisor Falih Alfayyadh, Iraqi National Accord founder Ayad Allawi, and Fatih Alliance leader Hadi al-Amiri.
KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani traveled to Baghdad on Saturday evening for talks with several Iraqi leaders (clockwise from top left) incumbent Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi, State of Law leader Nouri al-Maliki, Ataa Movement founder Falih Alfayyadh, Iraqi National Accord founder Ayad Allawi, Fatih alliance leader Hadi al-Amiri, and Hikmah Front leader Ammar al-Hakim, September 22, 2018. Composite photo from leaders' offices / Rudaw
The KDP plans to field its own candidate for the Iraqi presidency – a largely ceremonial post traditionally held by a Kurd – after refusing to endorse the nomination of Barham Salih by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
Although the deadline for candidates to submit their nomination for the presidency is Sunday at 3 p.m., “that does not necessarily mean the president will be voted for on Tuesday,” Bashir Haddad, the KDP second deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, hinted on Saturday.
“The constitutional timeline allows a president to be elected until October 3,” he said.
Months after Iraq’s May 12 parliamentary election, the country is still without a new government.
Last updated 11.31 p.m.
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