Iraqi lawmakers elect Kurdish politician as new president

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s parliament elected a veteran Kurdish politician as the country’s new president on Tuesday, a step toward forming a new government nearly five months after national elections.

State TV said Barham Salih, of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, won 220 votes out of the 273 lawmakers who attended Tuesday’s session. He was among 20 candidates for the post, including one from the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party. The two parties have dominated Kurdish politics for decades.

Under an unofficial agreement dating back to the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, Iraq’s presidency — a largely ceremonial role — is held by a Kurd, while the prime minister is Shiite and the parliament speaker is Sunni.

Iraq held elections in May 12.