Iraq’s Supreme Court on Sunday rejected the candidacy of the country’s former foreign minister for the presidency amid allegations of bribery, with many lawmakers reacting by boycotting the vote to elect a new president. intensifying the political controversy.
An Iraqi court has ruled that the candidacy of Hoshyar Zebari, a pro-Western Kurdish veteran Iraqi politician, will not be possible until the issue of corruption charges against him and his tenure as finance minister in 2016 is settled.
The decision was a blow to the populist Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who was the big winner in the October elections and has vowed to quickly push for a government that would not include Iran’s allies.
Sadr, in Zebari’s Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), and a “coalition” of Sunni Muslim lawmakers backed Zebari’s candidacy for the presidency.
Allegations of corruption against Zebari resurfaced when he emerged as a strong candidate, prompting Sadr to withdraw his support, saying in a statement that any future president must “qualify” to run for office.
A political alliance linked to Iran said in a statement on Sunday that it was opposed to a parliamentary session on Monday to elect a new president.
The KDP also announced on Sunday that it would boycott the process.
The Iraqi parliament is unlikely to be able to convene on Monday due to the number of lawmakers boycotting the vote, extending the battle for the presidency and the new government, which is mainly between Sadr and the pro-Iranian parliamentary camp.
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
