Baghdad, Iraq – Iraq took another step towards fulfilling its constitutional obligations, as the Speaker of Parliament today revealed the final list of candidates for the presidency. The list includes only 15 candidates who met the legal requirements, out of 81 applicants, most of whom were disqualified. Activists and journalists were also among those excluded.
Candidate map: between new faces and the old guard
The announced list included a mix of prominent political figures and those not widely known in the media. Among the most prominent names to be put to a vote were: Abdul Latif Rashid, the current president, who insisted on running for a second term as an independent despite the lack of support from his party (the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan); Fuad Hussein, the current foreign minister and candidate of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) led by Masoud Barzani; and Nizar Amidi, the former environment minister and a leading figure in the PUK led by Bafel Talabani. Other names on the list included Shwan Namiq, Najmaddin Abdul Karim, Aso Faridun, and Muthanna Amin Nader.
The Kurdish knot and political power-sharing
Despite the numerous candidates, observers agree that the real competition is between Fuad Hussein and Nizar Amidi. This position—traditionally reserved for the Kurdish component—is subject to arduous negotiations between the two Kurdish factions. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) clings to the post as its historical entitlement since 2005, while the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the largest party in the region, is striving to secure it this time. In a private statement, a member of parliament from the Coordination Framework indicated that Shia and Sunni forces respect the Kurdish decision. However, the ongoing dispute between Erbil and Sulaimaniyah may force the two parties to field separate candidates in parliament. This could lead to a fragmentation of the vote and a repeat of the scenario where the position is decided within parliament through political alliances.
Constitutional timelines and next steps
The Iraqi parliament faces a tight timetable, as the constitutional deadline for electing a president expires on January 29.
According to the constitution, the next steps following the presidential election involve the new president tasking the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc with forming a government. The prime minister-designate then has 30 days to present their cabinet and program to parliament for a vote of confidence.
Eligibility requirements and responsibilities
A candidate for president must be over 40 years old, hold a university degree, and possess a good reputation and political experience. Although the presidency is a largely ceremonial position in a parliamentary system where power is concentrated in the hands of the prime minister, the president plays a crucial role as guardian of the constitution and the official representative responsible for the transition between governments.
