Iraqi Parliament announces names of 33 approved candidates for country's presidency

Mustafa Shilani 2022/02/22 20:12

The President of Iraq podium (Photo: Iraqi Presidency office)

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi Parliament announced a list of candidates for the Iraqi presidency, including Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) member Rebar Ahmed, on Tuesday evening.

A total of 59 candidates applied to run for the presidency, the Council of Representatives said in a statement. Out of these, 26 were excluded for various reasons, including submitting requests to withdraw their candidacy to lack of political experience.

The statement added that 33 candidates fulfilled the conditions to run for the presidency stipulated by law.

The presidency of the parliament met on Tuesday with heads of parliamentary blocs to discuss several issues related to the work of the Council during the upcoming period, within the framework of naming the members of the blocs to the parliamentary committees.

Having postponed a session on Feb. 7 to elect Iraq's next president, the parliament has not yet set a new date for the election.

On Feb. 8, the Iraqi Parliament opened the door again for political parties to nominate new candidates for the Iraqi presidency.

Since 2003, Iraqi parties have agreed that the presidency would be reserved for a Kurd, the parliamentary speakership for a Sunni, and the premiership for a Shiite.