Iraqi parliament postpones presidential election session again

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Council of Representatives on Sunday postponed a scheduled session to elect the country’s president, without announcing a new date.

Nineteen candidates are competing for the largely ceremonial post after receiving approval from parliament and the Federal Supreme Court, having met constitutional requirements for nomination.

The confirmed list includes 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 Hussein.

In a brief statement, parliament’s media department said “the Council of Representatives has postponed the convening of its session.”

Parliament had already delayed the session last week. Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi said he 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.”

Separately, parliamentary leadership announced it would hold a meeting Sunday with heads of parliamentary blocs to discuss resolving the presidential election and setting a final date, while stressing adherence to constitutional timelines.

Under Article 72 of Iraq’s constitution, parliament must elect a president within 30 days of its first session. With the presidential vote repeatedly postponed, that window already past.