SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraq’s federal court on Tuesday ruled that a decision by the Iraqi parliament’s presidency to reopen door for presidential candidates was “unconstitutional”.
The Federal Supreme Court of Iraq held a session on Tuesday to decide whether reopening door for presidential candidates was constitutional.
On February 8, Iraqi parliament’s presidency reopened registration for candidates for the presidency, after it failed to select a new president for the country.
Legal experts believed the extension of the period was a violation of the terms of the Iraqi Constitution.
Lawmaker Basim Khashan filed a complaint at the federal court against the decision of the parliament’s presidency.
“There is no constitutional or legal text that gives the presidency of the Council of Representatives the power to reopen the door for candidates for the position of President of the Republic,” the federal court said.
The court, however, stated that the Council of Representatives could vote to reopen the registration.
The Iraqi parliament delayed the selection of a new president on Feb. 8 after major parliamentary blocs boycotted the session following the suspension of Hoshyar Zebari from presidential race.
Zebari’s suspension came after a lawsuit filed by two lawmakers accused him of years-long corruption.
The Sadrist Movement led by Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, Coordination Framework including Iran-backed Shia parties, Sunni blocs and the two major Kurdish parties all boycotted ahead of the session.
Iraq normally enters months of political deadlock after each general election as the political elite jockey for spots in the new government. Iraqis are increasingly disillusioned with the political process, accusing almost all their politicians of corruption.
