Iraq has had three vice presidents or deputy presidents serving concurrently.
The office of Vice President was historically largely ceremonial but prestigious. In post-war Iraq, the Constitution of Iraq, in its "Transitional Guidelines," creates a three-member presidency (or presidential) council, consisting of the president of Iraq and two deputy presidents, who must act in unison. The presidency council had three members to accommodate Iraq's three largest groups: Sunni Muslim Arabs, Shiite Muslim Arabs, and the mostly Sunni Kurds. As a unit, the Presidency Council was meant to symbolize the unity of the nation. This arrangement is required by the constitution to continue until the Council of Representatives, enters its second set of sessions. At this point, the Presidency Council would be replaced by a solitary President of the Republic, who would have only one deputy, the vice-president. In any case, the Presidency is appointed by the Council of Representatives. The three-member arrangement was a hold-over from the Iraqi Interim Government and the Iraqi Transitional Government.
In September 2014, three new vice presidents were elected: former prime ministers Nouri al-Maliki and Ayad Allawi and former speaker of Parliament Osama al-Nujaifi.
On August 11, 2015, the Council of Representatives approved the plan proposed by the al Abadi government to eliminate the positions of vice president and deputy prime minister. However, this decision was met with opposition, and Osama al-Nujaifi filed a constitutional complaint. Nuri al-Maliki also expressed his determination to retain his position.
On October 10, 2016, Federal Supreme Court of Iraq of Iraq ruled that the abolition of the three vice president posts was unconstitutional. Consequently, the positions were reinstated.
However, since October 2, 2018, the three vice president posts have remained vacant.
List of officeholders
Under Iraqi Republic and Ba'athist Iraq
The Ba'athist regime of Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr and Saddam Hussein also used the office of Vice President. However, the post was not as influential as the Vice Chairmen of the Revolutionary Command Council. Vice Presidents were appointed at the discretion of the President.
Portrait Name Term of office Political party President Notes Took office Left office Time in office → • Iraqi Republic (pre–Ba'ath Party) (1958–1968) • → Ahmed Hassan al-Bakrأحمد حسن البكر 18 November 1963 4 January 1964 Iraqi Ba'ath Party Abdul Salam Arif → • Iraqi Republic (under Ba'ath Party) (1968–2003) • → Saddam Husseinصدام حسين 17 July 1968 15 July 1979 Iraqi Ba'ath PartyAhmed Hassan al-Bakr Hardan al-Tikritiحردان عبدالغفار التكريتي 3 April 1970 15 October 1970 Iraqi Ba'ath Party Salih Mahdi Ammashصالح مهدي عماش 3 April 1970 December 1971 Iraqi Ba'ath Party Taha Muhie-eldin Maroufطه محيي الدين معروف April 1974 April 2003 years Iraqi Ba'ath Party Ahmed Hassan al-BakrSaddam Hussein Izzat Ibrahim al-Douriعزة إبراهيم الدوري 16 July 1979 9 April 2003 Iraqi Ba'ath PartySaddam Hussein Taha Yassin Ramadanطه ياسين رمضان الجزراوي March 1991 9 April 2003 Iraqi Ba'ath Party
Republic of Iraq since 2004 Portrait Name Term of office Political party President Notes Took office Left office Time in office Ibrahim al-Jaafariإبراهيم الجعفري 1 June 2004 7 April 2005 Islamic Dawa PartyGhazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer Rowsch Shawaysروز نورى شاويس 1 June 2004 7 April 2005 Kurdistan Democratic Party Adil Abdul-Mahdiعادل عبد المهدي 7 April 2005 11 July 2011 Islamic Supreme Council of IraqJalal Talabani Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawerغازي مشعل عجيل الياور 7 April 2005 22 April 2006 The Iraqis Tariq al-Hashimiطارق الهاشمي 22 April 2006 10 September 2012 Iraqi Islamic Party Khodair al-Khozaeiخضير الخزاعي 13 May 2011 9 September 2014 Islamic Dawa Party – Iraq Organisation Jalal TalabaniFuad Masum Nouri al-Malikiنوري المالكي 9 September 2014 11 August 2015 Islamic Dawa PartyFuad Masum Osama al-Nujaifiأسامة النجيفي 9 September 2014 11 August 2015 Muttahidoon Ayad Allawiأياد علاوي 9 September 2014 11 August 2015 Iraqi National Accord Post abolished (–) Post restored (–present) Nouri al-Malikiنوري المالكي 10 October 2016 2 October 2018 Islamic Dawa PartyFuad Masum Osama al-Nujaifiأسامة النجيفي 10 October 2016 2 October 2018 Muttahidoon Ayad Allawiأياد علاوي 10 October 2016 2 October 2018 Iraqi National Accord
Timeline
See also List of current vice presidents
References