Iraq on Thursday elected one of its former ministers Abdul Latif Rashid as its next president, in an attempt to end a year of violence and confusion over electing a new government. The move came just hours after rockets fell near the new parliament.
An overwhelming 162 votes were cast in favor of the 78-year-old politician, Rashid. He was a water resources minister from 2003-2010 and has also been an advisor to the president since. Outgoing President Barham Saleh lost with 99 votes and walked out of the Parliament after the results were announced. Saleh won only 99 votes after the voting ended in two rounds on Thursday.
At least nine rockets landed near Iraq’s Parliament, inside the strongly guarded fortified Green Zone, the center of government’s rule. The attack took place before a crucially awaited parliament session where lawmakers ran a decision-making round of government formation despite the political turmoil. The attack left at least five people wounded.
Shia al-Sudani, a Shia politician, was immediately named prime minister-designate by the Coordination Framework which is largely made of Shiite parties and is Iran supported. He is tasked with bringing the fighting Shia section into confidence and making a new government after a year-old political vacuum. He has taken the seat of caretaker PM Mustafa al-Kadhemi.
According to Iraqi legislation, the president must request that the largest group in Parliament name a prime minister. The Iraqi Parliament has 329 seats.
According to the law in Iraq, Latif has 15 days to nominate a prime minister, possibly al-Sudani, to bring his proposed cabinet to Parliament for a second vote.
The presidency in Iraq’s system of shared authority is up for nomination by Kurdish organizations, while Shiite blocs are in charge of the premiership. A Sunni is the parliament’s speaker.
