ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi leaders congratulated Nizar Amedi on his election as Iraq’s president in a Saturday session boycotted by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), nearly a year after elections were held.
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK) Amedi was sworn in after securing 227 votes in a second round, which required a simple majority. "We will use our power to protect Iraqi interests,” Amedi said after swearing in.
He and Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) candidate Muthanna Ameen advanced to a runoff after none of the candidates secured a two-thirds majority in the first round. The KDP’s Fuad Hussein did not qualify for the second round.
“We extend our sincere congratulations to Mr. Nizar Mohammed Saeed Amedi on the occasion of his election as President of the Republic,” Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani said in a statement.
“We look forward to fulfilling the decisive next step of forming a strong coalition government grounded in national and constitutional principles,” he added.
Iraq held legislative elections in early November. In late December, parliament elected its speaker and two deputies. Under Iraq’s constitution, lawmakers must elect a president within 30 days of forming parliamentary leadership.
Under Iraq’s informal power-sharing system, the presidency is allocated to the Kurds, the parliamentary speakership to Sunni Arabs, and the premiership to Shiite parties.
Parliament speaker Haibat al-Halbousi also congratulated Amedi, wishing him success.
“We also extend our thanks and appreciation to the political forces, ladies and gentlemen, the members of the House of Representatives for their role and undertaking their national responsibilities in the success of this merit decision,” he said.
The KDP and former premier Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law coalition announced Friday they would not attend the session, citing a lack of political consensus. The KDP holds 26 seats in parliament, while the State of Law coalition has 29.
Iraq's prominent Shiite cleric and politician Ammar al-Hakim, who heads the National Wisdom Movement, also congratulated Amedi and expressed hope that his term “will be characterized by upholding the constitution and safeguarding the interests of the country.”
“I also hope that his election will pave the way for resolving the issue of the prime ministership and completing the three branches of government,” Hakim said.
After a president is elected, the president must, within 15 days of being sworn in, task the prime minister nominee from the largest parliamentary bloc with forming a government.