SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi Council of Representatives on Sunday reopened registration for candidates to run for president, one day after it voted to approve the reopening of registration.
The parliament reopened the door for individuals and political blocs to nominate their candidates for the post of Iraq’s president for a period of three days, its press office said in a statement.
It is the third time that the Iraqi parliament opens registration for presidential candidates.
As many as 203 lawmakers voted on Saturday to approve the reopening of registration during a session in which 265 deputies attended.
The voting came after Iraq’s federal court ruled on Tuesday that a decision by the Council of Representatives’ presidency to reopen the 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.
