SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has submitted names of two other candidates for the position of president to the Iraqi Council of Representatives, a Shia politician said.
The office of parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi on Tuesday announced the “reopening of registration for candidates for the post of president of the republic from Wednesday, and for a period of three days”.
On Monday, the Iraqi parliament delayed the selection of a new president after major parliamentary blocs boycotted the session following the suspension of Hoshyar Zebari from presidential race.
The federal court has suspended procedures for the nomination of Zebari for presidency after a lawsuit filed by two lawmakers accused him of years-long corruption.
The court cited his 2016 dismissal from the post of finance minister by parliament over “charges linked to financial and administrative corruption”.
Public funds worth $1.8 million were allegedly diverted to pay for airline tickets for his personal security detail.
Zebari, 68, has always denied all corruption accusations.
The complaint also cited at least two other judicial cases linked to him, including when he was the country’s long-time foreign minister after the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein in the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
“Following the federal court’s decision, Hoshyar Zebari has no chance to become the president,” member of the Coordination Framework Aid Hilali said.
The Coordination Framework includes State of Law Alliance, al-Fateh Alliance, Ata Movement, National Forces Alliance, Haquq Movement and Fadhila party.
“The KDP has submitted names of two other candidates for the position of president, including Fuad Hussein,” Hilali added.
In 2018, the KDP put forth Hussein to run for the position of Iraqi president and challenge Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Barham Salih. Yet, lawmakers elected Kurdish politician Salih as president with 219 votes.
