Kurdish MP: Kurds might lose Iraqi Presidency post

MESOP : ELEPHANTS & CANDIDATES

21.07.2014 – Hemin Salih – BasNews, Erbil – Iraqi Kurds could lose the right to run for presidency following Kurdish parties’ inability to nominate a single candidate. On Sunday the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), who among the Kurds has the right to presidency, officially nominated two candidates for the post: Barham Salih and Fuad Masum. A Kurdish MP in Baghdad called on the Kurdish leadership to end speculation as soon as possible and nominate the preferred candidate.

Without PUK approval, Kirkuk governor and PUK member of political bureau Najmadin Karim put himself forward and refused to withdraw his candidacy despite calls by the PUK to withdraw. Iraqi Parliament is expected to vote for a new Iraqi President next Wednesday and by that time the Kurds must finalize their candidate. “Its true that the Iraqi president post is PUK’s right among the Kurds, but with a lot of candidates, Kurds run the risk of losing the post and this would damage Kurdish position in Baghdad,” said Kurdish MP in Baghdad Abbas Khazali. Khazali also warns Kurds that if they opt for three candidates they will lose votes and are unlikely to win.