Qubad Talabani and Fuad Hussein Discuss Political Deadlock, Iraq Presidential Election

Peregraf – Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region and senior official of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), met in Baghdad with Fuad Hussein, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) candidate for the post of President of Iraq.

According to a statement from Talabani’s media office, the meeting focused on recent political developments, the formation of both the Iraqi and Kurdistan Region governments, and specifically the election of Iraq’s next president. “Both sides agreed on the necessity of reaching an agreement on all issues and overcoming the current political deadlock,” the statement said, adding that dialogues will continue to achieve a suitable outcome.

Today, the Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives approved a request from the KDP and PUK to postpone the parliamentary session originally scheduled to elect the President of the Republic. The session has now been rescheduled for Sunday, February 1, 2026, according to Dilan Ghafoor, spokesperson for the PUK parliamentary bloc.

The postponement comes as the two Kurdish parties continue consultations to reach a consensus on their preferred candidate. Under Iraq’s constitutional deadlines, February 1 represents the final permissible date for the presidential vote, with no further extensions allowed.

The race for Iraq’s presidency has entered a decisive phase. Current President Dr. Latif Rashid has officially nominated himself for a second term. Meanwhile, the PUK has nominated Nizar Amedi, and the KDP has put forward Fuad Hussein as their official candidate. Analysts predict that one of these three Kurdish figures is likely to secure the presidency. 

During the previous term, Dr. Latif Rashid, running as an independent, became president as a compromise candidate between the KDP and PUK after the parties opposed each other’s nominees. Observers now question whether a similar resolution might occur this time, or whether an official party candidate will prevail.