Largest Bloc Has 15 Days to Nominate Prime Minister Following Iraq's Presidential Election

Iraqi parliament's media office

A previous session of the Iraqi parliament.

Following the election of Nizar Amedi as Iraqi President, the largest bloc in the parliament has 15 days to nominate its candidate for the position of Prime Minister.

Dr Bryar Rashid, lawmaker of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in the Iraqi parliament, told PUKMEDIA: “After the election of the President of the Republic, the Coordination Framework, as the largest bloc in the parliament, has 15 days, in accordance with the law, to nominate its candidate for the position of Prime Minister.”

He added: “The largest bloc must nominate its candidate, who will then be tasked by the President of the Republic with forming the new federal government.” He noted that the election of the President represents a significant step towards overcoming the current constitutional vacuum, with the process to be completed upon the formation of the new government.

Under Article 76 of the Iraqi Constitution, the process is as follows:

- The President of the Republic shall task the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc with forming the Council of Ministers within 15 days of the presidential election.
- The Prime Minister-designate must present the members of the cabinet within a maximum of 30 days from the date of designation.
- If the Prime Minister-designate fails to form a cabinet within this period, the President shall appoint a new candidate within 15 days.
- The Prime Minister-designate must present the cabinet and government programme to the Council of Representatives, which must approve them by an absolute majority.
- If the cabinet fails to secure confidence, the President shall nominate another candidate within 15 days.

The Iraqi Parliament, in a session held on Saturday, elected Nizar Amedi, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) candidate, as President of the Republic of Iraq.

During the first round of voting, Amedi received 208 votes, placing him ahead of other candidates. In the second round, in which 249 out 329 members of parliament participated, he secured 227 votes, formally becoming President of the Republic.



PUKMEDIA