The process of Iraq government formation is set to advance this week, as the parliament will convene on Tuesday to elect the country’s new president. Following the election, the new president will formally appoint a prime minister, a position for which Nouri al-Maliki has received the endorsement of the largest Shiite bloc.
Parliamentary Speaker Haibat al-Halbussi announced on Sunday that the session to elect the president would take place on Tuesday, according to the official Iraqi News Agency (INA).
By constitutional convention, Iraq’s prime minister is a Shiite Muslim, the parliament speaker is a Sunni, and the presidency is held by a Kurd. Once elected, the new president has 15 days to appoint a prime minister nominated by the largest parliamentary bloc.
On Saturday, the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite factions with ties to Iran, officially endorsed former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki for the premiership. The alliance cited his “political and administrative experience and his record in running the state.”
However, Kurdish parties have not yet unified behind a single candidate for the presidency. The position, typically held by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), is being contested by the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which has nominated current Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. A candidate must secure a two-thirds majority in parliament to be elected.
The formation of a new government remains a significant challenge. The designated prime minister will have one month to form a cabinet and win a vote of confidence from parliament. This process must navigate complex internal power-sharing arrangements as well as the influence of Iraq’s key allies, Iran and the United States.
Maliki’s potential return comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran. The US has demanded that the new government in Baghdad dismantle Iran-backed factions, many of which are part of the political landscape and hold seats in parliament.
