New Iraqi president takes office, government expected next week
Iraq's new president commenced his duties, and the designated prime minister will form his Cabinet next week.
Latif Rashid, a veteran political leader in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) who was elected Oct. 13 as Iraq's new president, commenced his duties in Al-Salam Palace in Baghdad on Monday.
Rashid designated Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as prime minister on the same day of his election. Sudani is currently negotiating with political parties over the formation of a Cabinet. He has one month to do so and to get parliament's vote of confidence for both himself and his Cabinet.
Sudani is a lawmaker from the Coordination Framework (CF), which became the largest block in parliament after lawmakers aligned with leader Muqtada al-Sadr and the Sadrists withdrew from parliament in June. The CF consists of Shiite parties close to Iran.
The State Management Coalition, which consists of the CF and its Sunni and Kurdish allies, announced today that the parliamentary session to vote on Sudani's Cabinet will be held Oct. 22.
