Baghdad: Head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, met today with a delegation from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) to discuss the formation of the next government and the three presidential positions.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Maliki’s media office released a statement noting that Maliki “received a delegation from the PUK, headed by Qubad Talabani, at his office today.” The meeting began with the delegation congratulating Maliki on the success of the democratic process as represented by the parliamentary elections and commending the State of Law Coalition for its strong performance in the elections.

The statement further elaborated that both parties examined the latest political developments and ongoing dialogues among political forces to form a new government. Discussions included the three top leadership roles: President of the Republic, Prime Minister, and Speaker of Parliament. Both sides exchanged views on mechanisms for managing these matters in alignment with the constitutional framework to achieve political stability.

On the topic of the presidency, the statement highlighted that detailed discussions took place regarding possible mechanisms for reaching a consensus among Kurdish forces on selecting a suitable candidate with national acceptance. This approach aims to strengthen joint action and meet the demands of the Iraqi people.