Iraqi parliament begins vote to choose new president

Iraqi political parties have failed to agree on electing new president, prime minister since general elections held a year ago this week

ISTANBUL (AA) – Iraq’s parliament on Thursday began a secret vote to choose a new president.

According to Iraq’s official news agency, the media department of the Council of Representatives, as it is officially known, stated that it “has begun a secret vote to choose the President of the Republic.”

Earlier on Thursday, Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi called to order parliament’s sixth session on electing the president.

After the session, the media department announced the submission to the speakership of a request to withdraw the presidential nominations of Reber Ahmed and Omar Al-Barzanji.

Iraqi political parties have failed to agree on electing a new president and prime minister since general elections held a year ago this week.

The last president, Barham Salih, resigned in December 2019.

* Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report

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