Iraq
Iraqi top court holds a session to review a case filed against registration of presidential candidacy on February 23, 2022. Photo: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's top court on Wednesday adjourned its session regarding the constitutionality of the parliament’s reopening of registration for presidential candidates, state media reported.
The next court session is set to be held on March 1 next week.
The recent decision by the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court comes 10 days after it removed the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) first candidate, Hoshyar Zebari, for the Iraqi presidency post citing years-old corruption accusations.
The KDP put forth a new candidate, Reber Ahmed, following Zebari’s removal.
Iraq held snap parliamentary elections on October 10. The speaker of parliament was elected last month following a deal between the Kurdistan Region’s ruling KDP, Sadrist bloc, and most Sunnis.
The Iraqi parliament announced the reopening of registration for presidential candidates on February 8, as the legislature failed to vote in a new president a day earlier due to the absence of prominent parties.
The case against the reopening of registration for candidates was filed by MP Basim Khashan.
“The lawsuit is not directed against anyone or a party, but rather to ensure respect for the [Iraqi] constitution and the law enacted by the council itself,” he said in a tweet on Monday, as the Iraqi constitution states that the doors for presidential candidacy to open three days after the parliament’s speaker and his two deputies are elected.
KDP’s Ahmed is 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.
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 Iraqi judiciary’s decision also comes after it ruled an oil and gas law regulating the oil sector in the Kurdistan Region unconstitutional last week.
The next court session is set to be held on March 1 next week.
The recent decision by the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court comes 10 days after it removed the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) first candidate, Hoshyar Zebari, for the Iraqi presidency post citing years-old corruption accusations.
The KDP put forth a new candidate, Reber Ahmed, following Zebari’s removal.
Iraq held snap parliamentary elections on October 10. The speaker of parliament was elected last month following a deal between the Kurdistan Region’s ruling KDP, Sadrist bloc, and most Sunnis.
The Iraqi parliament announced the reopening of registration for presidential candidates on February 8, as the legislature failed to vote in a new president a day earlier due to the absence of prominent parties.
The case against the reopening of registration for candidates was filed by MP Basim Khashan.
“The lawsuit is not directed against anyone or a party, but rather to ensure respect for the [Iraqi] constitution and the law enacted by the council itself,” he said in a tweet on Monday, as the Iraqi constitution states that the doors for presidential candidacy to open three days after the parliament’s speaker and his two deputies are elected.
KDP’s Ahmed is 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.
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 Iraqi judiciary’s decision also comes after it ruled an oil and gas law regulating the oil sector in the Kurdistan Region unconstitutional last week.
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