SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi Council of Representatives on Saturday voted the reopening of registration for candidates for the position of Iraq’s president.
The Iraqi parliament held a session on Saturday to put into vote reopening door for political blocs to nominate new presidential candidates.
As many as 203 lawmakers voted in favor during the session which 265 deputies attended, according to the Iraqi official news agency.
The session came after Iraq’s federal court ruled on Tuesday that a decision by the Council of Representatives’ presidency to reopen registration was “unconstitutional” and that the parliament could vote to reopen the door.
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.
