A Daawa Party delegation arrived in Erbil to discuss Iraq leadership talks with Kurdish officials. The visit aims to review the formation of the next Iraqi government and other key developments. Carrying the intention to unify positions, the delegation will meet President Masoud Barzani and other senior Kurdish leaders. Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw confirmed the delegation’s purpose involves presidential and prime ministerial posts discussions.
The delegation is led by Abbas al-Bayati and includes senior figures from the Daawa Party. Members Hassan al-Saneed, Kamal al-Saadi, Sadiq al-Bahadli, Amer al-Khuzaie, and Ahmed al-Mabriq are also part of the visit. Therefore, party member Omran Kadhim emphasized that the delegation aims to strengthen political relations and clarify leadership stances. He said Kurdish parties are a vital pillar in Iraq and hold influential viewpoints on leadership matters.
Kadhim added that the discussions aim to unify party visions on the presidency and prime minister positions. He stated that reaching a consensus would benefit all political sides and stabilize governance processes. Therefore, the visit coincides with intensified negotiations to elect Iraq’s next president and appoint a prime minister. So far, Kurdish parties have failed to agree on a single candidate for the presidency post.
Meanwhile, Nouri al-Maliki, the Coordination Framework’s candidate for prime minister, faces international opposition. A US State Department spokesperson warned that selecting Maliki could negatively impact Iraq-US relations. Maliki currently leads the Islamic Dawa Party and remains central to ongoing Iraq leadership talks. The delegation’s meetings in Erbil will likely address both domestic consensus and international concerns regarding nominations.
Iraq held legislative elections on November 11, and parliament convened on December 29 to elect key positions. Constitutionally, the president must be elected within 30 days, followed by 15 days to appoint a prime minister. Since 2003, informal power-sharing has allocated the parliament speakership to Sunni Arabs, the premiership to Shiites, and the presidency to Kurds. Disagreements between the KDP and PUK over the presidency have contributed to a political deadlock in Baghdad.
The PUK maintains the largely ceremonial presidency is its entitlement, while the KDP disputes this claim. Reports indicate the KDP has offered other federal positions to the PUK as compensation for the presidency post. Resolving these disputes remains crucial for completing Iraq leadership talks and forming a stable government. Observers say the Erbil discussions may shape decisions for the next president and prime minister effectively.
