Iraq's former finance minister loses appeal against 'unconstitutional' removal

Rudaw
 

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq’s former Finance Minister Hoshyar Zebari has lost an appeal at the country's federal court against his removal as minister by the parliament which he called unconstitutional.


The former minister lost his appeal 6 to 3 votes on Tuesday.


The Iraqi parliament withdrew confidence from Zebari in September.


“Unfortunately lost our appeal to Iraqi Federal Court 6 by 3 votes.” Zebari reacted on his Twitter account. "Now I’m a private citizen after 13 years working for the new Iraq,” he added.



“We have appealed to the federal court over the Iraqi parliament’s assembly on August 27, 2016, since the entire procedure took place in contrast to the law and constitution," Zebari told Rudaw in September, days after a no confidence vote.


The veteran 62-year-old politician warned of a "power vacuum" in the Iraqi government’s “ key institutions” earlier this year, saying that the entire cabinet of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was being targeted through parliament’s decision to remove cabinet ministers.


Zebari faced a no confidence vote on September 21, 2016.