BAGHDAD: Iraq's parliament has resolved to reconvene on February 7 to pick a new president.
The decision was reached following a meeting between Parliamentary Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi and his two deputies, during which they agreed to hold another parliamentary session to continue constitutional processes toward the formation of a new government, according to a statement released by the parliament. On January 31, the meeting voted to announce the names of the candidates who are eligible to compete for Iraqi president.
According to local media reports, the most prominent presidential candidates are incumbent President Barham Salih of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and former Foreign Minister and Finance Minister Hoshyar Zebari of the Kurdistan Democratic Party.
Iraq held its sixth parliamentary elections on October 10, 2021, following the 2003 US-led invasion, with Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr taking 73 of the 329 seats. After rejecting appeals from Iran-backed Shi'ite factions alleging electoral fraud, Iraq's Supreme Court confirmed the election results in late December.
The Iraqi President is elected by a two-thirds majority of the Council of Representatives, Iraq's parliament, and is limited to two four-year terms.
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