KDP president, Iraq's Sadr talk gov't formation in call

Kurdistan 24 2022/01/26 00:10

Influential Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr (L) and President Masoud Barzani.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – In a phone call late Tuesday, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani and influential Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr discussed the latest political developments in the country amid ongoing government formation talks.

A statement from President Barzani's office said the KDP leader and Sadr stressed the need for coordination between different Iraqi political parties during government formation talks to best serve the interest of Iraqis.

The conversation comes after Iraq's top court ruled earlier in the day that the incoming parliament's inaugural session, which saw the election of the body's speaker and deputy speakers, was constitutional. Lawmakers then elected the body's speaker and deputy speakers.

According to Iraq's constitution, members of the legislature are now to convene within 30 days of the Jan. 9 session to elect the next Iraqi president, who in turn must name a prime minister-designate from parliament's largest bloc within 15 days to form a cabinet.