Rashid, Halbousi stress national interests amid government formation delays

BAGHDAD — President Abdul Latif Rashid and Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi met Tuesday and stressed the need to “prioritize national interests” amid ongoing talks to form Iraq’s next government, according to the speaker’s office.

The statement said Halbousi met Rashid to review “developments in the country’s general situation,” with both emphasizing “the necessity of prioritizing the supreme national interest and resolving constitutional entitlements to confront current challenges.”

The meeting also addressed the legislative agenda, with Halbousi underscoring “the importance of strengthening cooperation and coordination between the legislative and executive authorities.”

Rashid affirmed the presidency’s support for “the pivotal role played by the Council of Representatives in passing essential legislation, in line with the requirements of the current stage and meeting citizens’ aspirations.”

Iraq’s government formation has stalled since the Nov. 11 elections. Parliament must first elect a president, who then tasks a nominee with forming a cabinet. A scheduled session to elect the president was postponed without a new date, extending the impasse.

Under Iraq’s post-2003 power-sharing framework, the presidency is customarily held by a Kurdish politician, the prime ministership by a Shiite Arab and the speakership by a Sunni Arab. The Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan have not agreed on a presidential nominee.

The Shiite Coordination Framework has nominated former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who served from 2006 to 2014, drawing criticism domestically and from President Donald Trump, who said the United States would not continue support for Iraq if al-Maliki returned to office.