Iraqi Parliament Postpones Session on Presidential Election

Iraqi parliament's media office

A previous session of the Iraqi parliament.

The Iraqi parliament was scheduled to convene on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, to hold a session for the presidential election, but the meeting has been postponed, as Kurdish parties have failed to agree on one candidate.

Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi announced that the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) have both nominated candidates for the post and that the two parties submitted a request to the parliament’s presidency to delay Tuesday's session to allow more time for dialogue and to reach a mutual understanding.

According to the Iraqi Constitution, Sunday, 1 February 2026, is the deadline for the parliament to elect a new president.

The PUK has emphasised that the presidency is its right, in line with longstanding political agreements and traditions. Nizar Amedi has been officially submitted as the party’s sole candidate for the post.

Since the fall of the former Iraqi regime, the presidency has traditionally been held by the PUK under established political arrangements. Previous officeholders on behalf of the PUK have included the late President Mam Jalal, Dr. Fuad Masum, Dr. Barham Ahmad Salih, and Dr. Abdullatif Jamal Rashid.



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