The election of Barzani, 52, as the president is anticipated to occur next week as he is the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) — the largest party in the Kurdistan Region — candidate for the post.
Additionally the KDP reached a deal to secure the support of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Change Movement’s (Gorran) last week. The KDP has 45 seats in the Kurdistan Region’s 111-seat legislature, followed by PUK's 21 and Gorran's 12.
Parliament opened a three-day window for those wanting to run for the presidency to submit their candidacy. Once the parliament receives all the applications, it will announce the names in two days. Then, parties will have three days to appeal the names.
Hevidar Ahmed, a member of the KDP bloc believes other than Barzani no one else will run for the president.
"It seems no other party will have a candidate to stand against Nechirvan Barzani," Ahmed said, saying Barzani has an outright majority support following the KDP-PUK-Gorran agreement.
Ahmed believes the post of the president is certainly for his party's candidate "as the result is clear already."
"Whether or not there is another candidate, next week Nechirvan Barzani will be elected president," he said, adding Barzani "as soon as possible" will submit his resume.
The process of voting for the president will not be held by secret ballot. KDP deputy Barzani is expected to receive 90 votes including his party's 45, one vote from their ally the Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party, 21 votes from the PUK, 12 from Gorran, and 11 minority quota votes.
However, other parties such as the Kurdistan Islamic Group (Komal), the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and the New Generation which have, seven, five and eight seats, respectively, and are not part of the triangle agreement between the three largest blocs of the parliament, have a different view.
Soran Omer, an outspoken 41-year-old Komal MP, says he is interested in filing for the post.
"I have decided to run for the president," Omer said, adding he already campaigned and has support from his bloc and party leadership. "I am optimistic they will agree with me."
But Rupak Ahmed, another Komal MP and member of the parliament’s Legal Committee said they are undecided.
"We will make a final decision in the next three days,” she said.
Komal did not vote for the amendment of the presidency bill during a session on Wednesday, instead protesting too much power is vested in the presidency and it should merely be a ceremonial role.
Shadi Nawzad, a New Generation MP, said her party — which is currently suffering internal struggles — has not yet decided on whether or not to present a candidate. The party walked out of last week’s session when the presidency bill amendments were being read aloud.
"We are engaged in talks and pondering what to do," Nawzad added.
But another New Generation official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Rudaw their party will boycott the process.
The KIU which received 5 seats, down from 10 in the previous parliament, announced they will neither vote for Barzani nor will they offer a candidate.
"We have opted to be on the side of opposition," Sarchinar Ahmed, a KIU MP told Rudaw. "The presidency is the highest executive body, so that is why we will not vote for it."
An independent has decided to field his candidacy.
"I have decided to run for the president post as an independent. And for this purpose, I have started process and will submit my CV and documents on Monday," Rebwar Aziz told Rudaw.
Rebwar, a father of four and lawyer of 17 years added: "Although I understand I will not receive enough votes to succeed, but I want to break with tradition."
The post of the Kurdistan Region president has been held by a KDP member. Masoud Barzani was the president from 2005 to 2017.
Reporting by Nawzad Mahmud
