Iraqi Parliament to Convene Monday Without Presidential Vote as Political Deadlock Persists

Peregraf — Iraq’s Parliament is set to convene on Monday, but the long-delayed election of a new president will not be on the agenda, underscoring the depth of the country’s ongoing political stalemate.

According to the Media Office of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, the session will focus on two items only: the swearing-in of a number of members of parliament and a vote on the formation of the council’s permanent committees. The absence of a presidential vote highlights the lack of political consensus nearly months after the issue became a central point of contention among Iraq’s main political blocs. 

The development comes as Iraqi media report that the State Administration Coalition — which brings together the dominant Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish forces — is expected to meet in Baghdad on Sunday in an effort to break the deadlock over the positions of president and prime minister. Both posts remain unresolved amid sharp divisions within and between the major political camps.

At the heart of the presidential impasse is a renewed dispute between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Talks between the two Kurdish rivals have failed to produce a unified candidate, raising the likelihood that each party will move forward with its own nominee when the issue eventually reaches parliament.

The presidency race has narrowed to three prominent Kurdish figures. Incumbent President Dr. Latif Rashid has declared his intention to seek a second term. The PUK has nominated Nizar Amedi, while the KDP has officially put forward Fuad Hussein. Political observers say the outcome will largely depend on shifting parliamentary alliances and last-minute negotiations among the major blocs.

Memories remain fresh of the previous presidential election, when prolonged rivalry between the KDP and PUK ultimately led to the selection of Dr. Rashid as a compromise candidate after both parties blocked each other’s nominees. Analysts are now questioning whether a similar consensus could emerge again or whether parliament will this time rally behind an officially nominated party figure.

Complicating matters further is the unresolved battle over the premiership within the Shiite political camp. Deep divisions persist, particularly following a message to U.S. President Donald Trump opposing the return of Nouri al-Maliki. Despite the controversy and resistance from rival factions, Maliki has continued to insist on his candidacy, intensifying internal Shiite tensions. 

Under Iraq’s constitution, the election of a president is a pivotal step, as the head of state is required to immediately task a nominee with forming the next government. Until that happens, Iraq remains in political limbo, with internal rivalries and external pressures continuing to shape a fragile and uncertain political process.