Iraqi lawmakers to elect president, PM next

BAGHDAD: Iraq's parliament will meet on Tuesday to elect the country's new president, who will then appoint a prime minister expected to be Nouri al Maliki after he was endorsed by the large bloc. Parliamentary speaker Haibat al Halbussi announced on Sunday that the new parliament will convene on Tuesday to elect a president, according to the official INA press agency.
The president will then have 15 days to appoint a prime minister, who is usually nominated by the largest Shiite bloc formed through post-election alliances. On Saturday, the Coordination Framework alliance endorsed former prime minister Maliki as the country's next premier. The alliance, to which Maliki belongs, spoke of his 'political and administrative experience and his record in running the state'.
The presidency is usually held by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Although Maliki's endorsement effectively guarantees him the post, forming a new government remains a daunting challenge that could drag on for months and still fail. The designated premier has one month to form a government and present it to parliament for a vote of confidence. — AFP