Parliament in Crisis-Hit Iraq Vows to Elect New President

A copperware seller sits outside a shop at the Saffarin market in the center of Iraq's capital Baghdad on October 7, 2022. (AFP)
A copperware seller sits outside a shop at the Saffarin market in the center of Iraq's capital Baghdad on October 7, 2022. (AFP)
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Parliament in Crisis-Hit Iraq Vows to Elect New President

A copperware seller sits outside a shop at the Saffarin market in the center of Iraq's capital Baghdad on October 7, 2022. (AFP)
A copperware seller sits outside a shop at the Saffarin market in the center of Iraq's capital Baghdad on October 7, 2022. (AFP)

Iraq's parliament will meet Thursday to "elect the president", speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi's office said, in a surprise move seen at trying to end months of political impasse.

The oil-rich but troubled country has already made three failed attempts this year to elect a new head of state, in February and March.

More than a year after Iraq's last general election, Halbousi’s office said Tuesday that the parliamentary session two days later would have "a single item on the agenda, the election of the president of the Republic".

Iraqis last voted on October 10, 2021 in a general election brought forward by a wave of mass protests against endemic corruption, rampant unemployment and decaying infrastructure.

Ahead of Halbousi’s announcement, the United Nations mission had urged political factions to end the deadlock, warning that "Iraq is running out of time".

The country has yet to form a new government after the 2021 election, leaving caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in charge.

Iraq's rival Shiite political factions have been vying for influence and the right to select a new premier and form a government.

The standoff has seen both sides set up protest camps and at times has sparked deadly street clashes in Baghdad.

On the one hand is influential cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who wants parliament dissolved and new elections.

On the other sits the Coordination Framework -- an alliance of pro-Iran Shiite factions including former paramilitaries that wants a new government before fresh elections are held.

Tensions boiled over on August 29 when more than 30 Sadr supporters were killed in clashes with Iran-backed factions and the army in Baghdad's Green Zone, the capital's fortified government and diplomatic district.

'Stifling crisis'

On August 30, current President Barham Salih urged "new, early elections in accordance with a national consensus", saying these could provide "an exit from the stifling crisis".

The largely honorific post of Iraqi president is traditionally reserved for a Kurd

It generally goes to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), while the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) keeps control over the affairs of autonomous Kurdistan in northern Iraq.

But the KDP is also eyeing the presidency and could present its own candidate on Thursday.

There are currently two obvious contenders: the PUK's Salih, the incumbent, and current Kurdistan Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed of the KDP.

Sajad Jiyad, researcher at think tank Century International, said he expected quorum -- 220 deputies out of the 329 in parliament -- to be reached and for the vote to go ahead.

But he told AFP that much depended on whether the PUK and KDP could compromise.

"Has the (Coordination) Framework managed to convince the PUK and the KDP to come to an agreement?

"Will there be one candidate? Will it be Barham? Or two candidates, Barham and someone the KDP backs?" he said.

Once parliament elects a new president, that person must then designate a prime minister, who is chosen by the largest coalition in parliament.

Jiyad said that if a president were elected, the likely candidate for premier would be Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the Coordination Framework's choice for the post.

"The Sadrists are not likely to be happy" with this, Jiyad said.

"Maybe they will encourage protests and prepare for the next elections."



Hezbollah Backs New Lebanese Government Ahead of Confidence Vote

Hezbollah members during the funeral of the party's Secretary-General Hashem Safieddine in the village of Deir Qanoun al-Nahr in southern Lebanon on February 24, 2025 (Reuters)
Hezbollah members during the funeral of the party's Secretary-General Hashem Safieddine in the village of Deir Qanoun al-Nahr in southern Lebanon on February 24, 2025 (Reuters)
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Hezbollah Backs New Lebanese Government Ahead of Confidence Vote

Hezbollah members during the funeral of the party's Secretary-General Hashem Safieddine in the village of Deir Qanoun al-Nahr in southern Lebanon on February 24, 2025 (Reuters)
Hezbollah members during the funeral of the party's Secretary-General Hashem Safieddine in the village of Deir Qanoun al-Nahr in southern Lebanon on February 24, 2025 (Reuters)

Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc on Tuesday gave its support to Lebanon's new government, which in a ministerial statement ahead of a confidence vote vowed a state monopoly on arms and the country's neutrality.

"We give our confidence to the government," said Mohammed Raad, the head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, expressing hope the new administration would "succeed in opening the doors to real rescue for the country", AFP reported.

"We are keen on cooperating to the greatest extent to preserve national sovereignty and its stability and achieve reforms and take the state forward," Raad told a two-day parliamentary session that began on Tuesday and will culminate in a vote of confidence in the new government.

The ministerial statement, an outline of the new government's work plan that was read out by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, vowed to extend "state sovereignty across all its territories exclusively with its own forces".

It also committed to deploy the army "in internationally recognized Lebanese border areas", and emphasized the need to work to implement a commitment by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on "the state's duty in monopolising the bearing of weapons" and "deciding on war and peace".

The ministerial statement noted the need to take "all the necessary steps to liberate all Lebanese territories from Israeli occupation".

Israel has maintained its troops in five "strategic" points along the shared border despite the ceasefire deal requiring its forces to withdraw completely.

Raad said the aim of the latest war was "to finish with Hezbollah... and end its resistance presence" against Israel, adding, "That attempt failed".

The new government has pledged to create a fund for rebuilding damaged and destroyed areas and is hoping for foreign assistance with the reconstruction effort, with the country mired in a five-year economic crisis.

The ministerial statement also pledged to adopt a "foreign policy that works to make Lebanon neutral from axis conflicts" and ensure "Lebanon is not used as a platform for attacking" Arab and friendly countries.