By convention, a Shiite Muslim holds the post of prime minister, the parliament speaker is Sunni and the presidency goes to a Kurd.
Kurdish parties have yet to agree on a presidential candidate, who must be endorsed by other blocs and win a two-thirds majority in parliament. The presidency is usually held by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). This year, the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) named its own candidate: Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.
A candidate wins in the first round if they receive two-thirds of the total votes. If no candidate meets this requirement, a run-off is held between the two leading candidates. The candidate who receives 51% of the votes is declared the winner. The president then has 15 days to appoint a prime minister.
