Electing the Iraqi President has sparked much controversy, and the parties still have different views on Thursday's meeting. Speaking for the State and Law Coalition, lawmaker Mohannad Khazraj said the presidential candidate would be voted into office after the political factions reach an agreement. He said the Kurdish parties' agreement on a candidate for the post is a matter for themselves.

"Everyone realizes that the president must be elected, otherwise the situation in Iraq cannot tolerate further delays and will lead to more complications," he said.

Coordination Framework leader Fazel Mawat Kasar said the Sadr movement was unlikely to react to the parliamentary session to appoint the President.

According to Kasar, "the Coordination Framework is not afraid of the reaction of the Sadr movement because the meeting is constitutional and the country needs a government urgently; otherwise, it will fall into further stagnation and crisis.

"It is impossible for the Kurdish forces to participate in the session with a common candidate," said Hassan Faddam, a Coordination Framework leader.

Other Coordination Frameworks believe that "if the Sadr movement does not agree to negotiate by tomorrow, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani would be sworn in as prime minister. If the Sadr movement agrees to negotiate before the Parliament meeting, Al-Sudani would be the first victim."

Iraqi Council of Representative's Thursday session will begin at 11:00 AM, meeting only to elect a President. Thirty-three people are running for the post of the President of the Republic.

For the House of Representatives to appoint the President requires two-thirds of the MPs to be present, or 220 out of 329 MPs. Many observers believe that a minimum number of MPs is needed in the house to hold its session. The required number might not be present in tomorrow's session. 

"The President of the Republic is the Head of the State and a symbol of unity of the country and represents the sovereignty of the country," Article 67 of the 2005 Iraqi constitution states. The President has no executive powers and is responsible for signing republican decrees, submitting bills, and representing Iraq internationally, in addition to appointing the candidate for the premiership.