ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said on Sunday that there is still time for political parties to reach an agreement that would benefit the public, just one day ahead of the scheduled parliamentary session to elect a president. During a meeting with Shiite cleric Ammar al-Hakim, head of PUK, Bafel Talabani said that there is still time for political parties to reach an agreement and to “prioritize national benefits over those of political parties,” according to a statement from Talabani’s office.
Talabani’s statement comes as the Iraqi parliament is scheduled to meet on Monday and vote on the country’s new president. The speaker of parliament was elected last month following a deal between Kurdistan Region’s ruling KDP, the Sadrist bloc and most Sunni parties. The legislature is scheduled to meet on February 7 to elect a new president for the country. The KDP has fielded Hoshyar Zebari, who has previously held several positions in Baghdad, while the PUK nominated the incumbent Iraqi President Barham Salih for the position.
According to a long-standing customary agreement, the three main leadership positions in the Iraqi government are divided among Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis. The presidency lies with the Kurds and the position has been held by the PUK since 2005.
The KDP was expected to hold an advantage over the PUK for the presidency race given their alliance with the Sadrist Movement, the largest parliamentary bloc, led by Muqtada al-Sadr. In a turn of events on Friday, Sadr called on members of his bloc not to vote for the KDP candidate for the Iraqi presidency if he does not meet the necessary requirements to fulfill the position. Sadr has promised to enact political reforms and to form a government free from corruption.
Zebari served as the Iraqi finance minister from 2014 to 2016 before he was removed from his position following a secret parliamentary vote of no-confidence over alleged corruption and misuse of public funds. Despite Zebari denying the allegation brought against him at the time, 158 MPs out of 249 present in the meeting voted against him. He was later cleared of the charges.
On Saturday, both Sadr and KDP leader Masoud Barzani reiterated the continuation of their alliance in a phone call.
Monday’s session is expected to be long but there is also the possibility that it will not be held if the required numbers of MPs do not attend.
An advisor to the Iraqi presidency on Sunday told Rudaw that even if the session is not held, there will not be a constitutional gap.
“If the February 7 meeting is not held, there will be no constitutional gap, because as per the Iraqi constitution the current president will remain in his position until the parliament chooses a new president,” Hawzhin Omar told Rudaw’s Hemin Baban.
