BAGHDAD, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi parliament's presidency on Monday scheduled April 11 as the date for the session to elect the country's new president, amid a prolonged political deadlock.
A statement by the parliament presidency said the decision was made following an expanded meeting with parliamentary bloc leaders to finalize legislative agendas and complete the voting process for the parliament's standing committees.
The meeting emphasized the importance of moving forward to complete the constitutional requirement of electing the country's president and ending the state of political deadlock, it noted.
"The presidency calls upon the leaders of political blocs to uphold their responsibilities in completing the constitutional milestones and forming a government capable of addressing the current challenges," the statement said.
Iraq held parliamentary elections in November 2025. Under the constitution, the parliament must elect a president by a two-thirds majority within 30 days of its first session. This is a mandatory step that precedes the formal nomination of a prime minister from the largest parliamentary bloc to form a new cabinet with full executive powers.
However, the process has faced repeated delays due to a lack of consensus among major political blocs, leaving the country with a caretaker government of limited legal authority.
The current push to expedite the vote comes as Iraq faces increasing pressure to stabilize its political landscape amidst a volatile regional environment.
Under Iraq's power-sharing system, the presidency is reserved for a Kurd, the parliamentary speaker for a Sunni Muslim, and the prime minister for a Shiite Muslim. ■
