Iraqis voted on Saturday in their first parliamentary election since the defeat of Islamic State’s self-declared caliphate, a poll which could affect the balance of power in the Middle East.
Here is how the new government will be formed, according to the Iraqi constitution, which specifies a 90-day process:
*The Independent High Election Commission will announce the election results on Monday.
*President Fouad Masoum will call the newly-elected parliament into session within 15 days of the announcement.
*Lawmakers will elect a parliamentary Speaker and two deputies by an absolute majority within their first session.
*Parliament will elect a new president by a two-thirds majority within 30 days of its first session.
*The new president will within 15 days formally task the largest parliamentary bloc’s nominee with forming a government.
*The prime minister-designate has 30 days to put together a cabinet and present it to parliament for approval.
*Parliament must approve the government programme and each individual minister in separate absolute majority votes.
If the prime minister-designate fails to put together a governing coalition after 30 days, or if parliament rejects the prime minister-designate’s proposed cabinet, the president must nominate another candidate within 15 days.
Reuters