Speaking to reporters in Sulaimani, PUK spokesman Saadi Ahmad Pira confirmed that the PUK’s Leadership Council had selected Salih for the nomination.

According to local media reports, Hoshyar Zebari, leader of Iraq’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and a former finance minister, is also being considered for the post, Anadolu reported.

On Monday, Iraq’s recently-elected parliament announced the beginning of the presidential nomination period.

On Sept. 25, the assembly will elect Iraq’s next president, who will then task the majority bloc in parliament with drawing up a new government.

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