Iraqi Parliament Sets January 5 Deadline for Presidential Nominations Amid Kurdish Divisions

Peregraf — The Presidency of the Iraqi Council of Representatives has announced that the final deadline for submitting nominations for the position of President of the Republic will be Monday, January 5, 2026, by the end of official working hours.

The presidency is traditionally allocated to the Kurds under Iraq’s post-2003 power-sharing arrangement. However, despite ongoing contacts and negotiations, the main Kurdish parties have so far failed to reach consensus on a single joint candidate. Political sources indicate that if the current deadlock continues, Kurdish parties are likely to enter the race with multiple nominees.

This renewed dispute comes amid recent tensions between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) over another senior federal position—the Second Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament—also considered part of the Kurdish share. That contest extended to three rounds of voting. In the first and second rounds, the PUK withheld support from the KDP’s candidate, allowing a rival nominee to take the lead. In the third round, after the KDP replaced its candidate, the PUK shifted its support to the new nominee, who ultimately won the post.

Under Iraqi law, candidates for the presidency must meet specific constitutional and legal requirements. A nominee must be born in Iraq to Iraqi parents, enjoy full legal capacity, and be at least 40 years old. Candidates must also have a good reputation and be known for integrity, justice, and loyalty to the country. In addition, they are required to hold at least a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university, must not have been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude, and must not be subject to the Accountability and Justice Law.

Following the convening of the first session of the new Iraqi Parliament and the election of its leadership—completed yesterday—the constitution stipulates that the President of the Republic must be elected within 30 days. The presidential election represents a key milestone in completing the formation of Iraq’s new federal authorities.

Once the president is elected, the next step will be the designation of a prime minister to form the government. According to the constitution, the president has 15 days from the date of election to task a prime ministerial candidate—typically from the largest parliamentary bloc—with forming a cabinet.

The final stage in the process involves parliamentary approval of the new government. The designated prime minister is granted 30 days to present the ministerial lineup and government program to parliament and secure a vote of confidence.