Ibrahim Saleh
08 February 2022•Update: 08 February 2022
BAGHDAD
The Iraqi Parliament said Tuesday it will accept applications for running for the country’s presidency as of Wednesday.
In a statement, Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi said candidacy will remain open for three days.
The move came after Iraqi lawmakers on Monday failed to elect a new head of state due to the lack of quorum amid a boycott for the session by political factions.
The constitutional deadline for presidential candidacy has expired.
According to the constitution, the parliament should elect the president within a maximum period of 30 days from their first session after their election. This period expires today considering that the parliament held its first session on January 9.
A parliamentary source told Anadolu Agency that 58 out of 329 lawmakers attended Monday’s session, forcing the parliament speaker to delay the session to elect the president.
Twenty-five candidates had vied for the presidential office, including incumbent President Barham Salih.
Al-Halbousi said Tuesday’s decision comes "in view of the expiry of the constitutional period specified for electing the president of the republic.”
Under a political norm since 2006, a Kurd is elected for Iraq’s presidency, while a Sunni heads the parliament, and a Shia takes the prime minister position.
On Sunday, Iraq’s Supreme Federal Court temporarily suspended Kurdish politician Hoshyar Zebari’s bid for the presidency after lawmakers filed complaints about graft accusations against him.
*Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar
