2026 Presidential Election in Iraq and the Political Process

The 2026 Iraqi presidential election is a political process conducted through an indirect election method within the country’s parliamentary system. The president is elected by the Council of Representatives of Iraq. The incoming president holds the authority to appoint the prime minister candidate, who is then tasked with forming a new government under the constitution.

Election Date and Candidates

A session to elect the president is planned for 27 January 2026 in the Council of Representatives of Iraq. However, this session has been postponed at the request of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). The Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported that the postponement was due to the inability of Kurdish political parties to finalize their candidate selection process.

Under the parliamentary process, the number of candidates for the presidency has been limited to 19 individuals. Among the candidates are the incumbent president Abdul Latif Rashid, Fuad Hussein, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Iraq’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Nizar Amedi, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). It has also been announced by the KDP that Fuad Hussein is their official candidate for the presidency.

According to the Iraqi Constitution, the president elected by the Council of Representatives is required to appoint a prime minister candidate within 15 days. The position of prime minister is allocated to the candidate nominated by the coalition bloc with the largest number of seats in parliament. This process is part of the constitutional timeline for government formation.

International and Domestic Political Pressures

Iraq’s political process is shaped by the influence of external actors. In particular, USA has demanded that the role of militias affiliated with Iran within the Iraqi government be restricted. These demands include the complete removal of Iran-backed groups from the government and the disarmament of militias. The United States has strengthened its position by linking these demands to threats of economic sanctions and restrictions on dollar flows.

Iraq’s dominant Shia political bloc, the Coordination Framework, has endorsed former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate for prime minister. Al-Maliki’s candidacy has sparked debate both within Iraq and internationally, with allegations that his previous tenure deepened sectarian tensions becoming a central point of political contention.

Before the election, U.S. President Trump stated: “I hear that Iraq may make a very bad choice by reappointing Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister. During his last time in power, the country was dragged into poverty and complete chaos. This must not be allowed to happen again.” Trump also noted that “if Maliki assumes the prime minister’s chair, the United States will no longer assist Iraq,” adding, “Let us make Iraq great again.”

On 28 January, Maliki responded on his social media account, referencing Trump’s remarks: “We reject U.S. interference in Iraq’s internal affairs.” Maliki argued that such statements constitute an infringement on Iraq’s sovereignty and an illegitimate intervention in the Coordination Framework’s decision to nominate its prime ministerial candidate. He added: “In international relations, the only acceptable political option is dialogue. Resorting to coercion and threats is unacceptable. Driven by respect for the national will and the decision of the Coordination Framework, I will continue working until we achieve the goal that best serves the supreme interests of the Iraqi people.”

Parliamentary Process and Timeline

Following the general elections of November 2025, the parliament held its first session on 29 December 2025, which was officially recognized as the start of the presidential election process. The parliament is required to respond to procedural steps, including the election of a speaker, within a 30-day constitutional timeframe; accordingly, the presidential election session has been scheduled accordingly.

Political Divisions and Challenges

The presidential election process intersects with multiple layers of political dynamics, including unresolved disagreements among Kurdish political parties, competing preferences within the Shia coalition over the prime ministerial candidate, and the rivalry for influence between the United States and Iran. This complexity complicates both the formation of a government and the achievement of sustainable political stability.