BAGHDAD, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi new parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi Tuesday confirmed that the lawmakers will have to elect a president with no later than the date of Oct. 2nd as stated in the Iraqi constitution.
Earlier in the day, the Iraqi parliament held a regular session without putting the election of a new president within the session's agenda due to deep division among the Kurdish political blocs who failed to agree on a single candidate for the post.
During the session, Halbousi told political blocs that electing a new president will be no later than the end of Oct. 2nd, as the Iraqi constitution stated that the new president to be elected within 30 days from the date of first parliament convening which took place on Sept. 3rd.
According to the constitution, the president-elect needs to gather at least two thirds of the votes. If the parliament lawmakers fail to vote by a two-third majority, the two candidates with the highest number of votes shall compete with each other.
The one receiving the majority of votes in the second round of vote shall be declared the president of Iraq.
