Peregraf — The Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives has approved a request from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) to postpone today’s parliamentary session, which was scheduled to elect the President of the Republic.
The session has now been rescheduled for Sunday, February 1, 2026, according to Dilan Ghafoor, spokesperson for the PUK parliamentary bloc, who confirmed the decision to Peregraf.
This postponement comes as the two Kurdish parties continue internal consultations and negotiations to reach a consensus on their preferred candidate. The move was officially approved to allow additional time for dialogue and agreement.
Under Iraq’s constitutional deadlines, February 1 represents the final date permitted for the election of the president. According to parliamentary sources, no further extensions are possible, and the president must be elected on that date.
The race for Iraq’s presidency has now reached a critical moment. The current president, Dr. Latif Rashid, has officially nominated himself to run for a second term. In addition, the PUK has named Nizar Amedi, while the KDP has announced Fuad Hussein as their official candidates. These three figures are now considered the most prominent Kurdish contenders, and it is highly likely that one of them will secure the presidency.
During the previous term, Dr. Latif Rashid ran as an independent while Barham Salih represented the PUK. The KDP opposed Salih, and Dr. Latif ultimately became president as a compromise candidate. Analysts now question whether a similar scenario could repeat itself: will Dr. Latif secure another term to resolve intra-Kurdish disputes, or will one of the official party nominees win the post?
The presidential vote is a critical step in Iraq’s political calendar, as it precedes the formation of the new government and the appointment of the prime minister. Analysts say the current delay reflects ongoing negotiations between the KDP and PUK over candidate selection and coalition agreements, which have become increasingly significant in the current political environment.