The deadlock in the presidency puts the political process on the brink of danger… Optimism for a near resolution, and Maliki awaits the “green light”.
The deadlock in the presidency puts the political process on the brink of danger… Optimism for a near resolution, and Maliki awaits the “green light”.
2-10-2026
The political scene in Iraq is entering a narrow constitutional tunnel as the deadlock surrounding the election of the president continues. This position has become a bottleneck , preventing political forces from forming the next government. With escalating Kurdish-Kurdish disputes and hardening stances between Erbil and Sulaimaniyah, warnings are mounting about the possibility of the country sliding into an administrative and legal vacuum that threatens the stability of state institutions. Despite this political turmoil, signs of behind-the-scenes activity are emerging in Baghdad, seeking to break the silence and impose a “national reality” within parliament that transcends narrow partisan agreements. This is an attempt to salvage what remains of the constitutional deadlines and pave the way for the candidate of the largest bloc to assume executive duties. In analyzing the situation, MP Muthanna al
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Azzawi warned of the repercussions of the continued political impasse, emphasizing that failure to resolve this issue will obstruct the formation of a government and place the country in a “serious constitutional predicament.”
Al-Azzawi told Al-Maalouma that “the presidency is the only legal and political key to moving to the next step of appointing a prime minister, and that the Kurdish-Kurdish dispute has reached a critical stage that directly threatens to violate constitutional deadlines.”
He added that “this division between the two parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, is hindering the convening of the election session, which negatively impacts public services and the economy, issues that concern citizens.” He pointed out that “the continued obstruction opens the door to an administrative and legal vacuum that may be difficult to contain.”
On
the other hand, optimism seems to be present in political circles, as former MP Baqir al-Saadi revealed serious efforts that could end the stalemate within the next few days through “last-minute” understandings.
Al-Saadi, speaking to Al-Maalouma, affirms that “the impasse over electing the president is nearing a final resolution and will not take more than a week,” indicating that “recent meetings in Baghdad have yielded preliminary understandings that may translate into setting a date for the anticipated election session next week.”
Al-Saadi reveals the scenario being considered should the deadlock persist, stating, “If the (Kurdish-Kurdish) agreement falters, the option will shift to the national arena within the parliament to determine the president’s identity.” He clarifies that resolving this issue will be immediately followed by the nomination of the largest bloc’s candidate within the coordination framework, Nouri al-Maliki, to form the government. A
historic responsibility
. Observers agree that the Iraqi parliament today faces a “historic responsibility” to defuse the crisis, especially since the public can no longer tolerate further procrastination and political maneuvering at the expense of their basic needs. Between Al-Azzawi’s warnings of a power vacuum and Al-Saadi’s assurances of an imminent resolution, the question remains: Will the pressure exerted by the “national arena” succeed in overcoming the obstacle posed by the two Kurdish parties and securing the election of the new president?
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