The Iraqi parliament has fixed April 11 for a session to elect a new president, as efforts continue to resolve a prolonged political deadlock.
In a statement, the presidency said the date was agreed after an expanded meeting with parliamentary bloc leaders to finalise legislative priorities and conclude the selection of standing committees.
The meeting underscored the need to fulfil the constitutional requirement of electing a president and to bring the political stalemate to an end.
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“The presidency calls upon the leaders of political blocs to uphold their responsibilities in completing the constitutional milestones and forming a government capable of addressing the current challenges,” the statement said.
Iraq held parliamentary elections in November 2025. Under the constitution, the parliament must elect a president by a two-thirds majority within 30 days of its first session.
This is a mandatory step that precedes the formal nomination of a prime minister from the largest parliamentary bloc to form a new cabinet with full executive powers.
However, the process has faced repeated delays due to a lack of consensus among major political blocs, leaving the country with a caretaker government of limited legal authority.
The current push to expedite the vote comes as Iraq faces increasing pressure to stabilise its political landscape amidst a volatile regional environment.
Under Iraq’s power-sharing system, the presidency is reserved for a Kurd, the parliamentary speaker for a Sunni Muslim, and the prime minister for a Shiite Muslim.
NAN