Alwaght- After a year of political tumult and failure to form a government, the Iraqi political groups elected a president, taking a step closer to a new cabinet and end of the stalemate.
On Thursday, the parliament meeting chaired by Mohammad Al-Halbousi for the election of the president reached its quorum with 269 lawmakers present, and in the competition between Abdul Latif Rashid and Barham Salih the lawmakers finally elected Rashid for the post of president with 162 votes. 99 members of parliament voted for Salih and 8 votes were declared invalid.
The voting followed an ultimatum by the majority-holding Shiite Coordination Framework (SCF) to the two major Kurdish parties, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) to end their difference on president choice and name a person for the post.
Rashid’s political record
Rashid who was a last-minute candidate for the post, is a relative of the former president Jalal Talabani. The Iraqis mainly remember the executive record of this 58-year-old engineer with his defense of environment.
Despite not having a political reputation, Rashid is not unfamiliar with the political arena. The Kurdish politician, who holds a degree in hydraulic engineering from University of Manchester, has a long political career in the federal government in Baghdad. The new Iraqi president was a member of the first Iraqi government formed after the 2003 US invasion.
Between 2003 and 2010, he was minister of water resources under Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The new Iraqi president had close ties with the late president Jalal Talabani, the founder of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and had been working as an adviser to him out of the spotlight since 2010.
The biography of the president of Iraq, published in 9 pages on his website, shows that he was also an independent consultant and expert of international institutions and participated in many irrigation and agricultural development projects.
Home reactions to new president
The election of the new president proved splashy in the domestic political atmosphere and drew many reactions, with many well-receiving him.
While congratulating Rashid, former President Salih tweeted on Thursday: "I had the honor to fulfill my duties as the president of Iraq under the umbrella of patriotism and support the reforms for the sake of a capable country serving the citizens and following these principles. I stay committed to these principles.”
Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, the caretaker prime minister, who is spending his last days in the position as Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is named next PM, wrote in a tweet: ”We congratulate the election of Dr. Abdul Latif Rashid as the president of Iraq.... We wish him luck and success in his mission and call all the political forces to cooperate with him and support him.”
Qasim al-Araji, the national security adviser and a close figure to al-Kadhimi, congratulated Rashid election, wishing him luck in “building a strong and glorious Iraq proportionate to people's sacrifices.”
Bafel Talabani, the head of PUK, was another political figure to issue a statement. In this statement, Talabani, while announcing the victory of his party in the long-lasting competition with the rival party, said that the will of the Patriotic Union in the political process was not affected by all conspiracies, and it insisted on its national decision.
“They named Hoshiar Zibari and we eliminated him. They nominated another candidate [Rebar Ahmad] and we eliminated him. If they had nominated several other candidates, we would have eliminated them all,” an audiotape of him released by local outlets appeared to say, referring to the rival KDP.
In another reaction, the PM-designate al-Sudani expressed his intention to form a strong government and also talked about his efforts to arrange local and parliamentary elections.
In a televised address, al-Sudani talked about his readiness to serve the “heroic and honorable” Iraqi people and promised work with all political forces.
“I will do my best to form a powerful government that is determined to implement its goals and plan by synergizing with political forces and by introducing efficient, expert and honest figures capable of fulfilling their responsibilities,” he said.
He also unveiled his government's plan to make economic reforms with the aim of reviving economic and agricultural sectors, supporting the private sector, diversifying the income sources, dealing with environmental issues and climate change, and preserving water resources. He further promised that fighting the corruption will be his “top priority” and would work with the judiciary and parliament to block corruption loopholes.
Al-Sadr's meaningful silence
With the election of new president and naming SCF’s favorable choice for the PM post, many believe that the former PM and a member of the SCF Nouri al-Maliki with his patience overcame the impatient Muqtada al-Sadr. Al-Maliki revived his past power while al-Sadr finds himself fully off the game.
Al-Sadr is yet to react to the Thursday important developments, signaling his discontentment rather than his indifference. After all, the developments marked a total defeat to him and his alliance.
While al-Sadr had strongly opposed the election of al-Sudani as the prime minister candidate, Masoud Barzani, the leader of KDP and an ally to al-Sadr tweeted: "Tonight on the phone I spoke with al-Sudani and wished him success as the new prime minister and his efforts to form a new government.”
New government's legal course after president election
According to the Iraqi constitution's article 76, after his election, the new president has 15 days to name a figure with the highest rate of approval among the political parties.
At present, firstly, the SCF is the largest parliamentary bloc which holds 138 seats after al-Sadr-affiliated bloc Saerun walked out of the parliament.
Secondly, the prime minister nominates the members of his cabinet within thirty days from the date of selection by the president.
Thirdly, If the PM-designate does not form the cabinet within the deadline, the president will appoint a new candidate to head the Council of Ministers within fifteen days.
Fourthly, the PM-designate submits the names of the cabinet members and the work plan of the ministers to the parliament, or House of Representatives, and once each of the ministers receive a vote of confidence individually and once the entire cabinet is required to receive a vote of confidence from the parliament.
Fifthly: If the ministers do not gain a vote of confidence, the president has to name another PM within 15 days.
Wide-ranging foreign support to Iraqi political process
Beside internal reactions, the election of president drew foreign reactions, with officials of many countries welcoming the move and calling for continued cooperation among Iraqi groups for political stability.
In a message on Thursday, the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah congratulated Rashid on his assumption of the presidency and called for the strengthening of relations “between the two brotherly countries” and the promotion of joint cooperation frameworks in various areas.
The US State Department welcomed the election of Rashid as the president of Iraq and the appointment of al-Sudani as PM.
The State Department Spokesman Edward Ned Price’s office stated that Washington calls on the political leaders that formed a new government to respect the demands of the Iraqis that voted for a government that responds to their needs. The statement further called on all sides to avoid violence and settle their differences in a friendly and peaceful ways.
Alina Romanowski, the US Ambassador to Baghdad, tweeted that Washington is looking forward to working with the new Iraqi president Rashid and the PM-designate al-Sudani to continue working together to create jobs, fight climate change impacts, and ensure the permanent defeat of ISIS."
On Thursday, Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq sent a congratulatory message to President Rashid for his election.
The embassies of European countries also reacted to the election of the new president in Iraq.
The British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly congratulated President Rashid in a tweet, adding that London was looking forward to working with Baghdad to “build a strong and independent Iraq” and affluent future for the Iraqis.
The German ambassador to Iraq Martin Jaeger wished Rashid success in his task and stressed that “Germany is ready to support the Iraq friends.”
The French embassy in Baghdad congratulated al-Sudani for his designation for the PM post and expressed readiness for work with him.
“The French embassy calls for formation of a government that makes efforts to meet the legitimate demands of the Iraqi people, especially the youths,” the statement further said.
