Iraq’s top court bars Zebari’s bid for presidency

The Iraqi Federal Supreme Court ruled against the presidential candidacy of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) nominee Hoshyar Zebari on Sunday, February 13.

The court said in a statement it has reached a verdict that Zebari cannot run for president following a hearing on a complaint filed against the candidate by MPs Ali Turki Jesum, Dilan Ghafur Salih, Karwan Ali Yarwais and Karim Shakur.

Zebari was removed from his position as the Iraqi Minister of Finance in 2016 over charges of financial and administrative corruption.

The supreme court temporarily suspended his candidacy on February 6 pending a court ruling, due to his past corruption charges.

Zebari said in a press conference following the court’s ruling on Sunday that he was innocent in court, calling the verdict "unfair.”

He stated he has worked to serve the country with "justice and purity” and said the court’s decision was related to politics, adding the KDP has no other candidate for the presidency.

The court verdict is final and cannot be appealed.

Under an arrangement since 2006, a Kurd is elected for Iraq’s presidency, while a Sunni heads parliament, and a Shia takes the prime minister position.

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