Between partisan calculations and constitutional entitlement, the presidential crisis enters a dangerous turning point.
Between partisan calculations and constitutional entitlement, the presidential crisis enters a dangerous turning point.
2-16-2026
The political scene is witnessing cautious anticipation regarding the outcome of the ongoing closed-door negotiations, as both the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) maintain their positions on the presidency. The postponement of the Iraqi parliament session dedicated to electing the “guardian of the constitution” has reignited the conflict between the two Kurdish parties, plunging the country into a constitutional crisis.
Observers believe that continued delays will cast a shadow over the appointment of a prime minister and the formation of a new government, potentially leading to a recurrence of the crises that plagued previous parliamentary sessions.
In
this context, independent politician and former MP Wael Abdul Latif accused the two Kurdish parties of directly causing the paralysis of state institutions and their dysfunction.
In a statement to Al-Maalomah News Agency, he said that exceeding the deadlines for electing the president is primarily the responsibility of the conflict between the KDP and PUK, arguing that this obstruction has forfeited their political rights by prioritizing partisan interests over the national interest.
Abdul Latif revealed three “catastrophic” mistakes committed by the current parliamentary session: extending the mandate of the Independent High Electoral Commission through the judiciary instead of parliament, yielding to pressure regarding the presidential election, and granting the caretaker government broad powers exceeding its legal limits. Meanwhile,
Kurdish
parties acknowledged the continued deadlock and lack of consensus on a unified candidate. Harim Kamal, a member of parliament from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), told Al-Maalomah that the disagreements with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) remain unresolved, indicating that the insistence on rigid positions is hindering the Kurdish component’s entitlement to a seat in parliament in Baghdad.
He added that the absence of a genuine will to reach an understanding has left the issue hostage to political wrangling, and that current indicators do not suggest a swift resolution despite ongoing political activity.
The tunnel of constitutional violation:
Observers believe that postponing the presidential election session is not merely a procedural delay, but rather an actual entry into the tunnel of “constitutional violation,” which would obstruct the appointment of a prime minister and delay the formation of a government. This would reproduce previous political crises for which the Iraqi public paid the price as a result of the power struggle over gains and positions.
almaalomah.me
