ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraq's Federal Supreme Court on Sunday ratified the results of the country's November parliamentary elections, setting in motion the next phase of the government formation process.

After reviewing the outcomes of the November vote, the court decided that they “met all constitutional and legal requirements, and that there were no grounds for invalidating it,” according to a statement carried by Iraqi state media.

Iraq held its sixth parliamentary elections in November 11, where around 7,750 candidates competed for the legislature's 329 seats. The country's electoral commission submitted the results to the Federal Supreme Court on Monday for ratification.

The ratification binds the parliament to hold its first session within 15 days. During the first session, the representatives elect a speaker, a post that traditionally goes to a Sunni Arab.

Iraq's state newspaper reported earlier in the day that the National Political Council, a coalition of the country's top Sunni blocs, will convene on Sunday to decide on a candidate for the parliament speaker position, with most of the council's five member parties having candidates for the position.

Within 30 days of the first session, the parliament must also elect a president for the country, which is reserved for Kurds, who would in turn name a prime minister-designate, selected by the largest parliamentary bloc, and task them with the formation of the Council of Ministers within fifteen days. The prime minister-designate would need to be replaced by the president if the cabinet fails to be formed in a timely manner.

Baghdad has often failed to honor the constitutional frameworks, as disagreements between rivaling blocs hinder the process, resulting in long delays and, at times, unrest in the country.