Exclusive: PM Abdulmahdi nods to Kurdish opposition candidate for justice ministry in phone call

By Surkew Mohammed

The prime minister of Iraq, Adil Abdulmahdi, approved a candidate from the Kurdish opposition, Gorran Movement (Change) for his justice ministry in a phone call.

The call came amidst an exhausting rivalry between the two ruling parties of the Kurdistan region, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) over the ministry. KDP stands firm against the prospect of PUK taking it, while PUK continues its arduous efforts to have it.

Two informed sources confirmed to Peregraf that PM Abdulmahdi has made a phone call to Gorran leaders in this regard. "Due to the outstanding issues, I'd like to give you the position," the high-ranking source quoted prime minister as telling Gorran, while asking them to send the resumee of three people.

In return, Gorran has put forward three judges, one of which withdrew, the source said, "As of now, only judge Latif Mustafa and judge Ismael Omer remain."

Latif is a prominent outspoken judge. He declared his resignation on 10 November 2018, after serving for 30 years, citing intervention of the political parties in the judiciary. Ismael Omer is a judge serving in Sulaimanyah's court of First Instance.

PUK has another front now after the call. Gorran finds it as its right to have the ministry and formed a negotiation committee which visited some parties recently, including the prime minister himself.

However, a high-ranking official of Change expressed the party's concern to Peregraf, "Nothing is final in Iraq, until the last minute."

Eight ministries, including the justice ministries which Kurdish parties compete on, are to be voted on in Tuesday's session this week.

Among the 14 ministerial positions filled, Kurdish parties have filled two, both from the KDP. KDP also takes another ministry, the Ministry of Migrants and Immigration.

Previously, Peregraf noted that PM Abdluhmadi had removed PUK's candidate on his voting list to parliament, Khalid Shwani, on the request of KDP leader Masoud Barzani.

In his visit to Baghdad on 22 November, Barzani insisted that PUK shall not take any other ministerial positions, due to having their share as the president of Iraq. However, KDP did not have any objection against other parties to have the ministry of justice.

PUK goes on with its attempts, though recently became difficult as the leader of Fatih Alliance, Hadi al-Amiri, supports Barzani.

The issue is still hot for PUK, intending to send a delegation to Baghdad to support president Salih in his efforts to obtain the justice ministry for the PUK.

On 1 December, PUK's leadership issued a statement supporting Salih and PUK's parliamentary bloc in Baghdad, "We insist on having PUK's share in the Iraqi cabinet."

PUK has enjoyed a strong relationship with the Shia parties in Iraq so far, but as the sources told Peregraf, Hadi al-Amiri, and even Haidar al-Abadi, have swayed away from the party and moved closer to KDP.

Shia and Sunni parties have their own intra-party rivalry on the ministerial positions, the Sunnis for the ministry of defence, and Shia on the ministry of interior.

PM Abdulmahdi has no parliamentary bloc to defend him, who is not known to be patient and often called someone who “has the resignation letter in his purse”. Now he is under pressure from all sides. His move to hand the ministry of justice to Gorran might be another attempt to avoid Kurdish pressure.