Iraqi court removes KDP presidential candidate

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s top court on Sunday ruled against the nomination of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) candidate for the Iraqi presidency post following his temporary suspension last week.

The Federal Court held its session in the morning to resolve the corruption case filed against KDP’s presidential candidate Hoshyar Zebari by a number of MPs.

The court decided against Zebari’s nomination for the post, reported state media shortly after the session ended.

Zebari is set to hold a press conference at 3:30 pm and is expected to address the court's decision.

Zebari on Sunday afternoon said the court's decision was "unjust and politically motivated," while reiterating his respect for the Federal Court's call.

The judiciary last week ruled to temporarily suspend Zebari’s candidacy until his case was resolved. The ruling was made on the grounds that he
did not meet the conditions of "good reputation and integrity" required by the constitution.

Zebari was one of the two frontrunners for the presidential race as the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has nominated the incumbent Iraqi President Barham Salih for the position.

During the press conference, Zebari also confirmed that the KDP does not have a potential candidate for the post yet. 

The court’s decision comes as the leaders of the two main Kurdish parties are in talks to discuss the Iraqi presidency post, which lies with them, amid rising tensions.

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.

Iraq was scheduled to vote in a new president on Monday, but the required quorum of two-thirds attendance of the 329 members of the legislature was not met as the KDP, Sunnis, and Sadrists boycotted the session.

Updated at 3:46 pm