Iraqi lawmakers are set to elect the country’s new president on Monday amid the boycott decisions from Kurdistan Democratic Party, Sadr’s bloc, and al-Siyada Alliance.

The parliament announced the names of 25 candidates for the presidential election scheduled for Monday but the boycott from the three political groups for the session threatens to postpone the session until further notice.

“To complete the ongoing consultations and dialogues between the political blocs, we decided not to attend the session of the parliament for Monday," the Kurdistan Democratic Party said in a statement.

Al-Siyada Alliance, a Sunni political group, announced that they had decided not to participate in the session.

Moqtada al-Sadr’s movement also said on Saturday that they would boycott Monday's parliament session.

On the other hand, Iraq's federal court on Sunday suspended former foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari's presidential bid over alleged corruption and misuse of public funds.

Incumbent president Bahram Salih, who is running for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), will seek a second term.

The president is elected by the Council of Representatives by a two-thirds majority and is limited to two four-year terms.

The president is responsible for ratifying treaties and laws passed by the Council of Representatives, issues pardons on the recommendation of the prime minister, and performs the "duty of the Higher Command of the armed forces for ceremonial and honorary purposes".

Since the mid-2000s, the presidency is primarily a symbolic office, as the position does not possess significant power within the country according to the October 2005-adopted constitution. (ILKHA)