According to official figures, Amidi secured 227 votes in the second round of voting. His closest rival, Member of Parliament Muthanna Amin Nader, received 15 votes, while seven ballots were declared invalid. The election took place more than two months after the constitutionally mandated timeframe, which requires the president to be chosen within 30 days of the first parliamentary session following national elections.
In the initial round held earlier the same day, no candidate achieved the required two-thirds majority needed for an outright victory. Amidi led that round with 208 votes, significantly ahead of all other candidates. Nader, representing the Kurdistan Islamic Union bloc, secured only 17 votes in the first round.
As a result, lawmakers proceeded to a second round, where a simple plurality was sufficient to determine the winner. Amidi expanded his lead and was formally elected president with 227 votes, while Nader again received 15 votes.
Under Iraq’s constitutional framework, the newly elected president must nominate a candidate from the largest parliamentary bloc to form a government within 15 days. This step will determine the next prime minister and is considered essential for restoring political stability after months of delay.
The leadership transition comes at a time of heightened regional tension. Iraq remains positioned between escalating friction involving the United States and Iran, with Iran-backed militias reportedly targeting U.S. military bases and diplomatic facilities, along with key energy infrastructure. These developments have increased the urgency of forming a stable government in Baghdad as the country navigates both internal political challenges and broader geopolitical pressures.
