Baghdad: Newspapers published in the capital on Monday prominently featured Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani's meeting with the newly elected council of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, while continuing coverage of the ongoing crisis over the election of the President of the Republic, in addition to other issues, including the government's decision to waive storage fees on goods. According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Zawraa, the newspaper issued by the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, led its front page with extensive coverage of the Prime Minister's reception of the Syndicate's new council, highlighting his affirmation of support for the Syndicate's independence. Al-Sudani stated that 'journalists are partners of the state, and professional media has accompanied the government's journey across its various milestones.' An official statement cited by the newspaper noted that the Prime Minister congratulated the Syndicate's president, deputies, and council members on gaining the confidence of their col leagues, praising the Syndicate's vital role and its importance in strengthening the journalistic environment. Al-Sudani underscored the significance of the media and its central role in supporting the government's reform agenda, stressing the need to uphold responsible, professional journalism and constructive criticism, while clearly separating legitimate media work from attempts at misinformation and distortion. He further emphasized that freedom of opinion and expression stands among the most significant achievements of the post-2003 period, calling for continued cooperation to safeguard and reinforce these freedoms. He affirmed that the government does not interfere in the Syndicate's affairs, but rather supports its independence free from pressures or obstacles, recalling the sacrifices made by journalists-both martyrs and wounded-in their pursuit of the truth. Regarding the electing to the president crisis, the Iraqi Media Network's newspaper, Al-Sabah, stated: "Amidst an atmosphere of political stag nation, Iraq faces a constitutional test today in the form of electing a president, a right that has not been fulfilled within the specified timeframe." It added: "Despite the delay and the constitutional vacuum that has exceeded 14 days, there are indications suggesting the possibility of overcoming this stage by resorting to the judiciary as a constitutional option to ensure a resolution of this entitlement." It further stated: "In this regard, the Speaker of Parliament, Haibat al-Halbousi, sent an official letter to the Chief Justice of the Federal Supreme Court, requesting an interpretation of Article 72/Second/B of the Constitution of the Republic of Iraq, which stipulates: 'The President of the Republic shall continue to exercise his duties until after the conclusion of the elections for the new Parliament and its convening, provided that a new President of the Republic is elected within thirty days from the date of its first session.'" MP Hanan al-Fatlawi told Al-Sabah newspaper, "The constitution do es not stipulate penalties for delays, which has created a legal dilemma." However, she emphasized that Parliament has the authority to convene an emergency session to elect the president. She added, "Adherence to legal texts presents an opportunity to restore balance between political norms and constitutional boundaries." Meanwhile, MP Mansour al-Baiji explained to the newspaper, "The political deadlock stems from the lack of agreement between the two Kurdish parties, and the Parliament has the constitutional authority to vote on the president if a political consensus is not reached this week." Al-Baiji indicated that the prime ministership is not affected by the delay in electing the president, and that the coordinating framework is prepared to present its candidate if objections arise, reflecting political flexibility within the bounds of the constitution. According to the newspaper, MP Mohammed Al-Khafaji pointed out that the work of Parliament was disrupted due to the failure to form committees, callin g for political norms to be transformed into a binding constitutional obligation. On the economic front, Al-Zaman highlighted the government's directive to facilitate the clearance of traders' and importers' goods from ports by waiving the government's share of storage fees. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, during a meeting to follow up on Cabinet decisions regarding the implementation of customs tariffs and the ASYCUDA system, described the file as 'a comprehensive economic reform step' aimed at correcting the country's economic trajectory and addressing accumulated structural imbalances. The Prime Minister praised the efforts of advisers and border, tax, and customs authorities in implementing the ASYCUDA system, and directed support for the Border Ports Commission's measures along checkpoints adjacent to the Kurdistan Region, in order to unify procedures and fees, ensure fair market competition, protect local products, and regulate the collection of fee differentials. Meanwhile, Head of the Genera l Customs Authority Thamer Qasim stated that ASYCUDA calculates duties based on weight and quantity, unlike the flat-rate system adopted in 2014, which had contributed to port congestion. Previously, a fixed three million Iraqi dinars was charged per container regardless of its weight or contents, whereas the current international customs system relies on more precise weight- and quantity-based assessments.