Disputes Linger in Iraq over Positions of President, Premier, Parliament Speaker

Iraqi President Salih (L) and PM Kadhimi. (Reuters file photo)
Iraqi President Salih (L) and PM Kadhimi. (Reuters file photo)
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Disputes Linger in Iraq over Positions of President, Premier, Parliament Speaker

Iraqi President Salih (L) and PM Kadhimi. (Reuters file photo)
Iraqi President Salih (L) and PM Kadhimi. (Reuters file photo)

Iraqi President Barham Salih announced on Thursday that the newly-elected parliament will convene its first meeting on January 9.

The legislature will meet in spite of persistent disputes between the country's main Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish blocs over the formation of a new government and amid a debate over whether to renew the terms of or elect a new president, prime minister and parliament speaker.

These disputes are set to dominate the discussions on January 9.

In a social media post, Salih hoped a new government would be formed smoothly so that it could assume its role in bolstering Iraq's sovereignty and serving its people.

This demands solidarity in order to achieve the desired reforms, he stressed.

The parliament meeting will unlikely lead to the election of a new speaker given the ongoing disputes between the Taqadom alliance, headed by incumbent Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, and the Azm alliance, headed by Khamis Khanjar.

Halbousi is hoping his term will be renewed.

Reports have said that Halbousi and Khanjar had reached an agreement that would see the former keep his position, while the latter would be appointed as one of his deputies.

Several Azm lawmakers have objected to Halbousi's election to a second term. They have suggested three replacements: Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, Khaled al-Obaidi and Thabet al-Abbasi.

As for the position of prime minister, the largest parliamentary bloc usually announces its preferred candidate.

The post is also at the center of heated dispute between Shiite blocs - namely the Sadrist movement, the winner of the elections, and the Coordination Framework, a coalition of pro-Iran factions and the losers of the elections.

Head of the Sadrist movement, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is insisting that his bloc, which won 75 seats, is entitled to naming the premier. The Coordination Framework is, however, insisting on naming the candidate.

Sadr has cited a constitutional article that stipulates that the largest bloc has the right to name the prime minister.

PM Mustafa al-Kadhimi could be reappointed to his post given the support he enjoys from Sadr. Some factions of the Coordination Framework want him out.

Meanwhile, the position of president is reserved to a Kurdish figure. Salih has not hidden his ambition to be elected to a second term.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party, headed by Masoud Barzani, however, is hoping to nominate a new figure to the post, preferably someone from his party or the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

Members of the PUK have said, however, that they would nominate Salih for a second term, paving the way for a potential dispute with Barzani.



Trump Says Gaza Ceasefire Possible this Week or Next

US President Donald Trump listens to opening remarks, on the day he hosts a lunch for African representatives of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
US President Donald Trump listens to opening remarks, on the day he hosts a lunch for African representatives of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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Trump Says Gaza Ceasefire Possible this Week or Next

US President Donald Trump listens to opening remarks, on the day he hosts a lunch for African representatives of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
US President Donald Trump listens to opening remarks, on the day he hosts a lunch for African representatives of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

US President Donald Trump said there is a "very good chance" of a ceasefire in Gaza this week or next, after meeting Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday for the second time in two days to discuss the situation.

"We have a chance this week or next week," Trump told reporters.

Israel's military chief said on Wednesday "conditions have been created" for the advancement of a hostage release deal in Gaza, as indirect negotiations were under way between Israel and Hamas.

"We have achieved many significant results, we have caused great damage to the governance and military capabilities of Hamas," armed forces chief Eyal Zamir said in a televised speech.

"Thanks to the operational power that we have demonstrated, the conditions have been created to advance a deal to release the hostages."

Netanyahu said on Wednesday that his meeting with Trump focused on freeing the hostages held in Gaza, and stressed his determination to "eliminate" the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas.