Iraqi president meets Hakim ahead of April 11 presidential vote

BAGHDAD — President Abdul Latif Rashid met with Al-Hikma Movement leader Ammar al-Hakim on Tuesday to discuss political and security developments, with both sides emphasizing the need for coordination among national forces ahead of the April 11 presidential election session.

Rashid stressed “the importance of continuing coordination and cooperation among various political forces to consolidate the state of internal stability that Iraq is witnessing and protect it from any potential repercussions.” Hakim expressed support for stability efforts and pointed to “the importance of coordination among national forces to resolve constitutional entitlements and overcome current challenges.”

Iraq’s parliament confirmed Monday that the session to elect a new president will take place Saturday, a necessary step toward naming a prime minister-designate and forming a government more than four months after November’s elections. The process remains paralyzed by a KDP-PUK dispute over the presidency — the PUK backing Nizar Amedi and the KDP backing Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein — and divisions over the prime ministerial candidate. The Coordination Framework’s nomination of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in January drew direct U.S. opposition, with President Trump warning Washington could halt support for Iraq if al-Maliki returned to power. A State of Law Coalition official claimed this week that the U.S. chargé d’affaires has since also conveyed opposition to renewing Sudani’s term, effectively leaving the dominant Shiite alliance without an American-approved candidate.