Baghdad: Iraq’s parliament has elected Nizar Amedi as the country’s new president in a contentious session marked by delays and a partial boycott by several political blocs.
The voting session, originally scheduled for the morning, was postponed for hours before finally beginning with 223 lawmakers present, enough to meet the required quorum. However, the process drew criticism after multiple factions chose to abstain, raising concerns over consensus and legitimacy.
Amedi, the candidate of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and a former environment minister, secured the presidency in a second round of voting after no contender achieved the necessary two-thirds majority in the first round. He ultimately defeated Muthanna Amin of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU).
In a significant development ahead of the vote, incumbent President Abdul Latif Rashid withdrew from the race, saying his decision was aimed at preventing further political divisions and preserving national unity.
With his election, Amedi now assumes a key constitutional role. He is expected within 15 days to invite the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc to form a new government. The designated prime minister will then have 30 days to present a cabinet.
Political uncertainty, however, continues to loom. Former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki remains a leading contender for the post, though his potential return has sparked controversy. Reports suggest that the United States has warned of withdrawing support if Maliki is reinstated, adding another layer of complexity to Iraq’s government formation process.
The ruling Shia Coordination Framework has yet to clarify its position, leaving the next phase of government formation uncertain as Iraq navigates a sensitive political transition.
