The 2026 Iraqi presidential elections is set to be held in Iraq to elect the president this year. Either 44[1] or 81 (including four women)[3] people have registered themselves to be potential candidates before parliament closed down the nomination on Monday, January 6.
Another source from the The National stated that while Amedi was nominated by the PUK to be a candidate, the KDP still hasn't announced on to endorse said PUK candidate or to nominate another politician. Other Iraqi civilians have also applied to be presidential candidates as opposition against the ethno-sectarian system, with critics accusing the system of increasing inefficiency, corruption, and deepening sectarianism.[2]
According to the constitution of Iraq, after the speaker is chosen, the parliament of Iraq is required to elect the president of Iraq with a two-thirds majority[4] within 30 days maximum. After the president is chosen, they are mandated to appoint the leader of the political bloc with highest amount of seats as prime minister. The prime minister then forms a new cabinet and have the nominee be approved by parliament through a vote-of-confidence within either 15[4] or 30 days.[4][1][2] This election was organized after parliamentary sessions in relation to the leadership were completed between December 29-30, 2025.[1]
An agreement between the PUK and KDP (also refereed to as the muhasasa) is that a nominee of the former party will be able to possess the role of president while the latter will govern the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region. The agreement has been criticised for encouraging corruption and sectarian splits.[2]
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