Iraqi parliament to elect a new president on February 7: statement
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi parliament’s newly-elected presidency on Thursday decided to hold a meeting on February 7 to elect a new president for the country, according to a statement from the legislature. Kurdistan Region’s two ruling parties continue their efforts to gain the support of Iraqi political parties for their candidates.
Iraq held snap parliamentary elections on October 10. The new members of the parliament were sworn in and they elected a new leadership for the legislature on January 9. The next phase is to elect a new president for the country by February 8, as per law.
Parliament’s new presidency held a meeting on Thursday and decided to announce the names of those presidential candidates who meet their requirements on Monday, adding that the election process will take place on February 7, according to the statement by the legislature.
The position has been held by Kurds for nearly two decades. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and its rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have fielded different candidates for the position, harming their relations.
The KDP has appointed Hoshiyar Zebari, who has served as Iraq’s foreign minister and finance minister in the past, and the PUK has fielded Barham Salih, the incumbent president of the country.
Both parties are holding meetings with Iraqi political parties to gain support for their candidates, with officials from both sides already claiming victory.
The new president will task the candidate of the largest parliamentary alliance to form a new cabinet.
PUK Co-chair Bafel Talabani met with Hadi al-Amiri, leader of Fatih Coalition, in Baghdad on Thursday.
According to a statement from Amiri’s office, the leader told Talabani that the PUK and KDP have to resolve their issues regarding the position of Iraqi presidency, adding that “the continuation of this difference will reflect in Iraq.”
Iraq held snap parliamentary elections on October 10. The new members of the parliament were sworn in and they elected a new leadership for the legislature on January 9. The next phase is to elect a new president for the country by February 8, as per law.
Parliament’s new presidency held a meeting on Thursday and decided to announce the names of those presidential candidates who meet their requirements on Monday, adding that the election process will take place on February 7, according to the statement by the legislature.
The position has been held by Kurds for nearly two decades. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and its rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have fielded different candidates for the position, harming their relations.
The KDP has appointed Hoshiyar Zebari, who has served as Iraq’s foreign minister and finance minister in the past, and the PUK has fielded Barham Salih, the incumbent president of the country.
Both parties are holding meetings with Iraqi political parties to gain support for their candidates, with officials from both sides already claiming victory.
The new president will task the candidate of the largest parliamentary alliance to form a new cabinet.
PUK Co-chair Bafel Talabani met with Hadi al-Amiri, leader of Fatih Coalition, in Baghdad on Thursday.
According to a statement from Amiri’s office, the leader told Talabani that the PUK and KDP have to resolve their issues regarding the position of Iraqi presidency, adding that “the continuation of this difference will reflect in Iraq.”