Rashid, Maliki hold talks on post-election negotiations

BAGHDAD — President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid met with State of Law Coalition leader Nouri Al-Maliki in Baghdad on Tuesday to review the latest political and security developments and discuss efforts among political forces following the recent parliamentary vote.

According to a statement from the presidency’s media office, the meeting addressed “the ongoing dialogue paths between blocs and national forces to develop a shared vision that leads to resolving constitutional entitlements within their designated timeframes.”

Because power in Iraq’s post-2003 system is shared among Shia, Sunni, Kurdish and minority forces, the process of forming a cabinet is expected to involve extended negotiations over top posts and ministerial portfolios.

No party or coalition secured a majority. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition finished first with 46 seats, the highest total nationwide.