BAGHDAD, 05 Feb. - (ANA) - Iraq's main political factions are holding private meetings in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region to resolve the deadlock over the presidential election and form a new federal government. Missed constitutional deadlines and ongoing divisions among Kurdish and Shiite blocs continue to hinder progress.

 

On Sunday, Iraq's Council of Representatives postponed for the second time a session to elect a new president after failing to reach a quorum. Fewer than 120 lawmakers attended, falling short of the constitutional threshold of 220 and exceeding the 30-day deadline for electing a president after the first parliamentary session.

 

The continued delay has heightened uncertainty over forming both the next federal government in Baghdad and the overdue Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet. 

 

Earlier on Sunday, the Presidency of the Council of Representatives convened a meeting with leaders of parliamentary blocs to discuss ways to resolve the impasse and agree on a final date for the presidential vote.

 

According to the parliament’s media office, the talks focused on completing the presidential election and emphasised the need to meet constitutional deadlines, following repeated failures to achieve a quorum.

 

The meetings underscored that those political disagreements, particularly over the presidency and the nomination of a prime minister, continue to block government formation.

 

 

 

 

A source within the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), speaking to The New Arab on condition of anonymity, said the party would insist on retaining the presidency, which it views as its political entitlement, and would not trade the post for ministerial portfolios in either the next Iraqi federal government or the KRG.

 

The source said incumbent President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid is expected to withdraw, and that the lack of agreement on a prime ministerial candidate is worsening the deadlock.

 

The source added that if the KDP and PUK do not agree on a single Kurdish nominee for the presidency, forming a new KRG cabinet will become more complicated.

 

The source also stated that both Kurdish and Shia parties implicitly agreed to postpone Sunday's session. However, Shia factions have blamed the lack of quorum on divisions within the KDP-PUK, despite their own disagreements over the premiership.

 

Shia blocs in the Coordination Framework remain divided over the prime minister nomination, as their preferred candidate, former premier Nouri al-Maliki, faces opposition from the United States, according to political sources.

 

This internal fragmentation, together with Kurdish disagreements over the presidency, has hindered any bloc's ability to secure sufficient parliamentary attendance to advance the process.

 

Amid these developments, a high-level Shia Coordination Framework delegation arrived in the Kurdistan Region on Monday for separate meetings with the KDP in Erbil and the PUK in Sulaimaniyah.

 

The delegation, led by outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, included Badr Organisation leader Hadi al-Ameri, Al-Asas Coalition head Mohsen al-Mandalawi, and Framework secretary-general Abbas Radi.

 

In a statement posted on X, Sudani's office said the meetings focused on "the upcoming constitutional entitlements, foremost among them the election of the president of the republic," to complete the formation of the government in line with the results of the November parliamentary elections.

 

 

The visit has led to speculation that Sudani may seek another term as prime minister.

 

 

 

 

In Erbil, Sudani met with KDP leader Masoud Barzani, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, who serve as the KDP leader's first and second deputies, respectively.

 

According to the prime minister's media office, discussions covered constitutional entitlements, government formation, and regional developments, including Syria. The statement stressed the need to unify Iraq's political discourse to protect national interests amid regional changes.

 

Later in Sulaimaniyah, Sudani and his delegation met with PUK leader Bafel Talabani. The prime minister’s office said the meeting reviewed national and regional developments and emphasised the need to resolve the presidency and fulfil constitutional obligations by forming a government that reflects the aspirations of all Iraqis.

 

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said Sunday that the KDP and PUK have not agreed on a joint candidate for Iraq's presidency, despite ongoing talks.

 

"No agreement has been made yet," Barzani said, adding that discussions were continuing.

 

On Friday, 52 lawmakers formally requested that the parliamentary presidency urge the KDP and PUK to resolve their differences and agree on a single nominee before scheduling a new session.

 

Nineteen candidates, both Kurdish and Arab, are officially contesting the presidency. The position is expected to go to either the KDP or the PUK, or a consensus candidate endorsed by both.

 

Since the 2003 US-led invasion, the presidency has mainly been held by the PUK under Iraq's informal power-sharing arrangement, which assigns the premiership to Shia parties, the speakership to Sunni Arabs, and the presidency to the Kurds. Under the constitution, once a president is elected and sworn in, he has 15 days to task the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc with forming a government.

 

In the October 20, 2024, parliamentary elections, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) won 39 seats, making it the largest bloc. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) secured 23 seats, and the opposition New Generation Movement (NGM) took 15.

 

However, Kurdish parties have not elected a speaker of parliament or formed a new cabinet because of ongoing disputes over the Iraqi presidency and key ministerial roles in the KRG.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/05 February 2026  - - -