PUK's Nizar Amedi Elected as New Iraqi President in Second Round of Parliamentary Voting

Peregraf — Nizar Mohammed Saeed, known as Nizar Amedi, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)’s candidate and a figure seen as close to the Talabani family, was elected President of Iraq on Saturday after securing 227 votes in a second round of parliamentary voting.

The vote followed a deadlocked first round in which no candidate reached the required 220 votes. Amedi had led with 208 votes but fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to win outright, forcing a runoff decided by a simple majority.

The session took place amid a boycott by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), underscoring deep political divisions. Foreign minister Fuad Hussein did not advance to the second round.

In the runoff, Amedi secured enough support to clinch the presidency, marking a significant victory for the PUK in its long-standing rivalry with the KDP over the post.

Amedi, 58, has held senior roles across Iraq’s political system, including serving as a top adviser to former presidents Jalal Talabani, Fuad Masum, and Barham Salih, and as environment minister from 2022 to 2024.

His election comes as Iraqi factions remain locked in negotiations over forming a new government, with Kurdish divisions and broader political disputes continuing to shape the process.