File of Iraqi politicians vying for presidency

(2 Oct 2018) LEADIN:
The Iraqi Parliament will convene to elect a new president today.
The front runners for the largely ceremonial job are Barham Saleh of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Fuad Hussein of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
STORYLINE:
The Iraqi parliament will elect a new president later today.
A vote expected yesterday was delayed, but according to the Iraqi constitution, the position must be elected by today.
Under an unofficial agreement dating back to 2003, the presidency must be held by a Kurd - the same agreement stipulates that the prime minister is reserved for Shiites and the parliamentary speaker is Sunni.
Barham Saleh of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) is one of two presidential candidates.
He is the former deputy Iraqi Prime Minister and the former prime minister of the northern Jurdish region of Iraq.
Saleh's rival for the post is Fuad Hussein of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
He has previously held the position of Chief of Staff in the Kurdish President's office.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: Twitter: AP_Archive
Facebook: Facebook: APArchives ​​
Instagram: Instagram: APNews


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

• #news_politics
• #ap_archive
• #4175197
• #d583ef5cd18e94c65d9b61702f3c59ae
• #meex_iraq_presidential_candidates
• #iraq
• #middle_east
• #jean
• #jean_yves_le_drian
• #government_and_politics