The Iraqi legislature was scheduled to meet on Monday to elect a new president of the republic, however a quorum of two-thirds attendance was not met as the KDP-Sadrist-Sunni alliance boycotted the session. According to state media, only 58 MPs attended the 329-seat parliament in Baghdad.
After the Iraqi federal court on Sunday decided to temporarily suspend the nomination of Zebari in response to cases filed against him by a number of MPs on charges of corruption and the grounds that he does not meet the conditions of “good reputation and integrity”, the KDP seem insistent on continuing to put forth Zebari for the position. It is not known when the court’s final ruling on Zebari is expected.
“We insist on our decision, because we know that Hoshyar Zebari is not only a KDP candidate, but also a Sadrist and Sunni candidate,” the head of Iraqi affairs at Barzani headquarters, Arafat Karam, told Rudaw’s Sangar Abdulrahman, adding that the cases filed against their candidate are “political”.
“Barham Salih is trying, because he knows that if the session is held, Hoshyar Zebari will win,” he said.
According to a long-standing customary agreement, the three main leadership positions in the Iraqi government are divided among Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis. The KDP has previously stated that they will not interfere with who the Sunnis agree upon for the parliamentary speaker and the Shiites for the premiership but, according to Karam’s statement, the nomination of Zebari was a mutual decision among Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites.
While the KDP seems to be insistent on Zebari, however, a parliamentary member from the Sunni Azm Alliance who is also part of the alliance with the Sadrists and the KDP, on Monday said that their vote will be for any KDP candidate for the presidency, but that the KDP should have an alternative for Zebari.
“We boycotted the session because of the absence of KDP's candidate Hoshyar Zebari, we will boycott any other meeting if a KDP candidate for the presidency is not available,” Mashaan al-Juboori told Rudaw, adding that he believes that “the KDP has to offer an alternative candidate, given that tomorrow the parliament will open nominations again.”
According to Karam, the KDP spoke to both the Sunnis and the Sadrists ahead of nominating Zebari and they both approved, although Juboori said that the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has other preferences as well.
“I believe that the KDP’s next candidate will either be Nechirvan Barzani or Fuad Hussein if the federal court does not approve the candidacy of Hoshyar Zebari,” he said, adding that “when Muqtada al-Sadr met with Nechirvan Barzani some days ago, he asked him why don't you be a presidential candidate.”
“This means that Sadr supports Nechirvan Barzani to take the presidency,” he added.
The Sadrists are not only after settling the presidency with a majority. In January, their alliance with the KDP and the Sunnis helped parliamentary speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi get re-elected for a second term, and now they are also looking into forming a majority government.
However, the main Sadrist opponent, the Coordination Framework, which includes the notable Fatih Alliance, State of Law Coalition and National State Forces Alliance and other blocs, previously alleged fraud and demanded the cancellation of the October vote. Now, they are seeking to be included in the government and are against a majority rule.
Iraq has for years had a national consensus government in which most parties were included and government members would be responsible for their leaders first, and then for the prime minister. This form of governance has allowed Iran to outsize its influence in Iraq and, according to many, encouraged corruption and hindered development in the country.
Despite the Sadrist attempt at a majority government, a former Iraqi minister and close aide of KDP head Masoud Barzani on Sunday said that the Coordination Framework might eventually end up in the government.
“The Coordination Framework will enter as well, and there will be an agreement on both the presidency and the premiership,” Bangen Rekani said in an interview with al-Ahed TV.
The current president, Barham Salih, will remain in his position until the parliament agrees on a new one.
