Iraq’s Salih To Remain President Until Parliament Elects New One, Supreme Court Rules

Iraq’s incumbent President Barham Salih will remain in office until a new president is elected, the country’s Federal Supreme Court ruled on Sunday. Parliament failed to elect a new president within the constitutionally mandated 30-day period due to lack of a quorum, and thus Salih must “continue his duties until the election of a new president to replace him,” said a court statement. A new president was to be elected from among 25 candidates in a February 7 parliamentary session, but most major political blocs boycotted the session due to disputes among them. The new president must have the support of two-thirds of parliament, according to Iraq’s constitution. The new president then appoints the largest parliamentary bloc to name a prime minister-designate who is tasked to form a government within 30 days. Parliament reopened the nomination process for the presidency for a period of three days starting on February 8. Parliament’s first session, during which the speaker and two deputy speakers were elected, was held on January 9. The Sadrist Movement of Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr emerged as the largest bloc, winning 73 out of the 329 seats, in the most recent parliamentary election – Iraq’s fifth – which was held on October 10, 2021.