Iraqi Lawmakers Elect New President

Iraqi Lawmakers have elected Kurdish politician Abdul Rashid as the country’s new president.

Shia politician Mohammed al-Sudani was named prime minister-designate, assuming the task of reconciling feuding Shia factions and forming a government after a year of deadlock.

Rashid replaced fellow Iraqi Kurd Barham Saleh as head of state after the two-round vote in parliament on Thursday, winning more than 160 votes against 99 for Saleh.

In Iraq’s power-sharing system, the presidency is reserved for Kurdish groups to nominate while the premiership falls under Shia blocs.