KDP’s Barzani and PUK’s Talabani will hold decisive meeting about Iraqi presidency: source

PEREGRAF 

The leaders of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) will hold a critical meeting on Thursday (February 10) to discuss the Iraqi presidency amid fierce competition between the two parties.

"It is decided that at 11 a.m. tomorrow, Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani will meet and discuss the post of president and reach an agreement on a joint candidate," a senior PUK source told Peregraf.

"There are new proposals for reaching an agreement, " the source said but was unwilling to give further details.

The meeting comes after Speaker of the Council of Representatives Mohammed al-Halbousi controversially reopened nominations for the post.

Over the past several weeks, competition between the KDP and PUK has escalated after the former nominated Hoshyar Zebari to challenge the incumbent, Barham Salih.

Buoyed by an apparent agreement between the KDP, Shia cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr, and the major Sunni parties, Zebari looked set to be approved by parliament, but a last-minute court challenge lodged by the PUK may derail his chances.

The court has not yet ruled whether Zebari’s removal as finance minister in 2016 following a vote of no confidence over corruption allegations disqualifies him from holding the post.

"Hoshyar Zebari is still a candidate for the post of president, but preparations have been made for the possibility of expulsion by the federal court," a source with knowledge of the KDP political decision-making process told Peregraf.

According to the source, if the court does not exclude Zebari, the KDP will continue to back him. If the court rules against him, the party will nominate someone else.

Nevertheless, Halbousi’s move to reopen nominations, which gives the KDP flexibility to pursue the latter course, is highly controversial.

Basim Khashan, an independent lawmaker, said in a statement that reopening nominations was unconstitutional and illegal and added that he has petitioned the court to suspend the action pending a judicial review.