Iraq’s top court to hear case against KDP’s presidential candidate on Sunday

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court said on Wednesday that it will meet on Sunday to hear the case against the Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) candidate for the Iraqi presidency, as reported by state media. 

The court decided on Sunday to temporarily suspend the KDP’s Hoshyar Zebari’s nomination for the Iraqi presidency after a number of parliamentarians filed a case against him. Zebari has said he respects the ruling.

The legislature was scheduled to meet on Monday to elect a new president for the country. However, the meeting was postponed indefinitely because a quorum of two-thirds attendance was not met as the prominent political parties, including the KDP, boycotted the session.

Iraq held snap parliamentary elections on October 10. The speaker of parliament was elected last month following a deal between Kurdistan Region’s ruling KDP, Sadrist bloc and most Sunnis. 

The KDP has fielded Zebari, who has previously held several positions in Baghdad, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has nominated the incumbent Iraqi President Barham Salih for the position. Both candidates are the strongest by far.

According to a long-standing customary agreement, the three main leadership positions in the Iraqi government are divided among Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis. Kurds get the presidency, Shiites get the premiership, and Sunnis get the parliamentary speaker. Among Kurds, the PUK has held on to the presidency position since 2005.

The Sadrist bloc, the main winner of the elections, has decided to suspend its participation in talks with political parties regarding the formation of the next government.  

Updated at 9:13 pm