Iraq’s parliament is scheduled to convene on Tuesday to elect a new president, a move that will pave the way for the appointment of a prime minister widely expected to be former premier Nouri al-Maliki.
Parliamentary Speaker Haibat al-Halbussi announced on Sunday that lawmakers would meet to elect the president, according to the official INA news agency. Under Iraq’s constitution, the elected president has 15 days to designate a prime minister, who is typically nominated by the largest Shiite bloc formed after elections.
By political convention in Iraq, the prime minister is a Shiite Muslim, the speaker of parliament is Sunni, and the presidency, a largely ceremonial role, is held by a Kurd.
On Saturday, the Shiite Coordination Framework alliance endorsed Maliki as its candidate for prime minister. The alliance, which includes factions with varying degrees of ties to Iran, cited Maliki’s “political and administrative experience and his record in running the state.”
Kurdish parties, however, have yet to agree on a consensus presidential candidate. The presidency is traditionally held by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), but this year the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has nominated Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. Any presidential candidate must secure backing from other blocs and win a two-thirds majority in parliament.
Although Maliki’s endorsement by the largest Shiite bloc makes his return to office likely, the process of forming a new government remains uncertain and could take months. Once appointed, the prime minister-designate has 30 days to form a cabinet and present it to parliament for a vote of confidence.
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Maliki, 75, is set to return to power at a time of shifting regional dynamics, as Iran’s influence in the Middle East faces growing challenges and tensions with the United States intensify. A close ally of Tehran, he is expected to face pressure from Washington to curb or dismantle Iran-backed armed factions operating in Iraq.
Last month, Iraqi officials and diplomats told AFP that the United States had demanded that any new government exclude Iran-aligned armed groups, many of which hold seats in parliament and have expanded their political and financial influence.
Iraq is also grappling with weak economic growth and is seeking to avoid further punitive measures from Washington, which has already sanctioned several Iraqi entities over allegations of assisting Iran in evading international sanctions.