MESOP MIDEAST WATCH: Zebari Says Banning Him from Iraqi Presidential Race was “Political Decision”

13-2-2022 ERBIL — Hoshyar Zebari, the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) nominee for the Iraqi president, said Supreme Federal Court’s ruling to reject his candidacy was “a clear political decision”. 

The top Iraqi court earlier the today rejected Zebari’s candidacy, claiming that he does not meet the legal requirements articulated in the Presidential law.

“While it is an unjust, arbitrary, and politically motivated decision, we respect that,” Zebari told reporters during a press conference on Sunday in Baghdad. “We know the system well and we were sure that we meet the requirements. We are not outsiders; we built this Iraq.”

Asked about the possibility of a new candidate from the KDP, Zebari said his party has options to deal with the current developments, but it has not yet decided to nominate another political figure for the post of Iraqi president.

Commenting on the future of KDP’s alliance with the Shia Sadrist Movement and Sunni Siyada Coalition to lead the formation of the new Iraqi government, and whether it could be affected by the court’s decision, Zebari said the political agreement is on a large scope than the election of the republic’s president.

Zebari, a prominent Kurdish politician, previously served as Iraq’s finance and foreign minister. He was nominated by the KDP to compete several other candidates.

However, at the request of several lawmakers on February 6, the Supreme Federal Court decided to suspend Zebari’s candidacy and review the case.