Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani meets with President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid in Baghdad to discuss constitutional priorities, national unity and government formation.
Sudani, Rashid stress need to settle constitutional deadlock, form new government
BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met Monday with President Abdul Latif Rashid to review political and regional developments, with both emphasizing the need to settle constitutional entitlements to form a government capable of continuing development and economic recovery.
The meeting discussed the general situation in Iraq and the region and stressed strengthening national unity and supporting government measures aimed at reinforcing Iraq’s role in the region, the Prime Minister’s Media Office said.
Participants reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a balanced foreign policy and support for dialogue as a means of resolving crises and establishing regional stability.
Iraq’s government formation has stalled over a deadlock on the presidency, a constitutional prerequisite before a prime minister can be tasked. Multiple parliamentary sessions to elect a president have been postponed and the constitutional deadline has passed.
The impasse centers on disagreements between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan over who should hold the presidency, a post traditionally reserved for a Kurdish politician under Iraq’s power-sharing system. The KDP argues the position should go to the largest Kurdish bloc and has nominated Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, while the PUK insists the presidency remains its entitlement.
The Shiite Coordination Framework has warned that continued paralysis risks deepening institutional deadlock.