Iraqi parliament sets Sunday session to elect president

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Council of Representatives will hold a session on Sunday to elect the country’s president, according to the parliament’s media office.

In a statement, the media office announced the agenda for Session No. 7, scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at 11 a.m.

Voters elected all 329 members of parliament in November, and the legislature selected Haibat al-Halbousi as speaker in late December, completing initial constitutional steps ahead of the presidential election and subsequent government formation.

Iraq’s parliament on Tuesday postponed its session to elect the president until further notice. Speaker al-Halbousi said he had received formal requests from the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan to delay the session scheduled for Tuesday, “to allow more time for understanding and agreement between the two parties.”

The confirmed names for presidency position include incumbent President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, former foreign minister Fuad Hussein and senior Patriotic Union of Kurdistan figure Nizar Amedi. The Kurdistan Democratic Party has nominated Fuad Hussein.

The announcement comes as negotiations over the next government continue. Iraq’s Shiite Coordination Framework announced it nominated State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki for prime minister by “majority vote.” However, days later U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Washington would “no longer help” Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki returns to office. Political discussions have since focused on whether al-Maliki will remain the Framework’s nominee or withdraw in favor of an alternative candidate.