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The Election is over – and so what happens next?

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The order of events will be: ratification of results, the call to the Council of Representatives to convene, the election of a speaker, the election of the new President, the nomination and approval of the Council of Ministers.

  • The ratification of the general election results by the Federal Supreme Court will take place according to Article 93(7)
  • According to Article 54 of the constitution:
    The President of the Republic shall call upon the Council of Representatives to convene by a presidential decree within fifteen days from the date of the ratification of the general election results. Its eldest member shall chair the first session to elect the speaker of the Council and his two deputies. This period may not be extended by more than the aforementioned period.
  • According to Article 55 of the constitution:
    The Council of Representatives shall elect in its first session its speaker, then his first deputy and second deputy, by an absolute majority of the total number of the Council members by direct secret ballot.
  • According to Article 70 of the constitution:
    First: The Council of Representatives shall elect a President of the Republic from among the candidates by a two-thirds majority of the number of its members.Second: If none of the candidates receive the required majority vote then the two candidates who received the highest number of votes shall compete and the one who receives the majority of votes in the second election shall be declared President.
  • According to Article 76 of the constitution:
    First: The President of the Republic shall charge the nominee of the largest Council of Representatives bloc with the formation of the Council of Ministers within fifteen days from the date of the election of the President of the Republic.Second: The Prime Minister-designate shall undertake the naming of the members of his Council of Ministers within a period not to exceed thirty days from the date of his designation.

    Third: If the Prime Minister-designate fails to form the Council of Ministers during the period specified in clause “Second,” the President of the Republic shall charge a new nominee for the post of Prime Minister within fifteen days.

    Fourth: The Prime Minister-designate shall present the names of his members of the Council of Ministers and the ministerial program to the Council of Representatives. He is deemed to have gained its confidence upon the approval, by an absolute majority of the Council of Representatives, of the individual Ministers and the ministerial program.

    Fifth: The President of the Republic shall charge another nominee to form the Council of Ministers within fifteen days in case the Council of Ministers did not win the vote of confidence.

Pursuant to Articles 68 and 77, the President and Prime Minister must be Iraqi by birth, born to Iraqi parents. The President must be over 40 and the Prime Minister over thirty five.