Baghdad, Iraq – The Iraqi Parliament announced on Wednesday the opening of nominations for the presidency. A short timeframe was set for receiving applications, in accordance with constitutional procedures following the election of the parliamentary leadership.
The Council’s Media Department announced in an official statement that the application period will last for three days only, starting Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and continuing on Sunday and Monday, January 4 and 5, 2026. Applications will be accepted during official working hours at the Council’s headquarters in the Baghdad Conference Palace.
The legal requirements for candidates, based on Law No. (8) of 2012, stipulate that candidates must be Iraqi citizens by birth, born to Iraqi parents, and must be of sound mind and at least forty years of age.
The candidate must have a good reputation, political experience, and a proven track record of integrity and uprightness. They must also hold at least a recognized bachelor’s degree, have no criminal record involving moral turpitude, and not be subject to any accountability or justice proceedings.
In the constitutional context, this step comes as a continuation of the constitutional process. This process requires the election of a new president within 30 days of the first parliamentary session and the election of its speaker. Once the president is elected, he is responsible for tasking the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc with forming the new government within a specified timeframe.
Observers believe that opening the nomination process marks the beginning of a period of intensive political negotiations between the various factions, particularly the Kurdish blocs, which have traditionally held the position. It is expected that the coming days will witness efforts to solidify agreements before the decisive vote.
