Iraqi court suspends former foreign minister Zebari's nomination for presidency
The Federal Supreme Court of Iraq says it has temporarily suspended prominent Kurdish politician Hoshyar Zebari’s presidential bid, just one day ahead of parliament's election of a new president.
The court said on Sunday that it has made the decision after receiving a complaint from lawmakers that Zebari's candidacy was "unconstitutional" because of the graft claims, adding it looks into corruption allegations dating back to 2016.
#عاجل
— وكالة يونيوز للأخبار (@uunionnews) February 6, 2022
المحكمة الاتحادية العليا في #العراق تصدر أمراً ولائياً بإيقاف ترشيح هوشيار زيباري لمنصب رئيس الجمهورية#يونيوز
The Iraqi parliament in September 2016 dismissed then finance minister Zebari, a politician from the Kurdistan Democratic Party who had served as foreign minister for more than a decade, on charges of corruption and mismanagement. Zebari, 68, has always denied all corruption accusations.
Last week, the court received a petition by four lawmakers demanding Zebari’s expulsion from the presidential race over the same allegations.
In its ruling, the court said it had "decided to temporarily suspend the procedures of electing (Zebari) for the position of President of the Republic until the case is resolved."
Zebari was not immediately available for comment but he had previously rejected the "politically motivated allegations" against him.
Public funds worth $1.8 million were allegedly diverted to pay for airline tickets for his personal security detail.
He was one of two main contenders for the largely ceremonial post of president, which the parliament was to vote on Monday. The incumbent Barham Saleh is the other favored candidate for the position.
The parliament's vote will come four months after a parliamentary election led to Influential cleric Muqtada Sadr’s Sairoon coalition won 73 seats in the 329-member house.
The largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament, led by Sadr, announced on Saturday that it has suspended talks with other factions for the formation of the next government, and declared a boycott of Monday's parliamentary session to elect a new president.
Head of Sadr's parliamentary faction, Hassan al-Adhari, told a news conference in the capital Baghdad that all negotiations meant to establish the future government have been suspended indefinitely, saying no member of the Sadr faction would attend the parliamentary session.
US occupation forces in Iraq, Syria hit in two separate attacks in 24 hours
Iraq won’t tolerate violation of its sovereignty, PM tells Erdogan
Why bombing Hashd al-Sha’abi base in Iraq will backfire on Israeli regime
Tehran economic conference: Raeisi hails Iran-Africa expansion of ties
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Severe heat wave hits India as phase 2 of polling begins
What to expect after President Raeisi's visit to Pakistan
China describes Iran as ‘strategic partner' in West Asia
April 25: ‘Axis of Resistance’ operations against Israeli occupation
Hezbollah hits Israeli military sites near border with rockets, drones
Rwandans say UK deportation 'another brutal manifestation of neo-colonialism'
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
