Maliki meets KDP delegation on government talks, top posts

BAGHDAD — State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki met Tuesday with a Kurdistan Democratic Party delegation led by Fazil Mirani to discuss ongoing negotiations to form a new government after Iraq’s Nov. 11 parliamentary elections.

According to a statement from Maliki’s media office, the meeting reviewed “the current political situation and the course of ongoing dialogues to form the government.” It said both sides stressed the need to continue consultations to speed up government formation “in line with constitutional entitlements and established timelines.”

The statement said the talks also included “a detailed discussion of practical mechanisms for forming the three presidencies,” referring to the presidency of the republic, the premiership and the speakership of parliament.

Iraq’s president has called the newly elected Council of Representatives to hold its first session on Dec. 29, following the Federal Supreme Court’s ratification of the final election results. The Independent High Electoral Commission has said Amer al-Fayez, an elected lawmaker from Basra, will chair the opening session as the oldest member.