Iraq’s supreme court docket on Sunday dominated out a bid by veteran politician Hoshyar Zebari to run for president after a grievance filed in opposition to him over corruption fees.
Zebari, 68, who served as overseas minister for a decade after the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, was beforehand “suspended” from the race on February 6, on the eve of the scheduled date for a presidential vote in parliament through which he was the favorite.
MPs submitted a grievance in opposition to Zebari earlier than the supreme court docket, on the grounds that his participation would have been “unconstitutional” due to the excellent corruption fees and on the premise of popularity.
“The federal court docket determined in its verdict to invalidate the candidacy of Hoshyar Zebari to the put up of president of the republic,” state information company INA introduced.
On Tuesday, parliament introduced the reopening of registration for candidates to the largely ceremonial put up of president that’s reserved for Iraq’s Kurds, after a delay for lack of a quorum.
Zebari, additionally a former finance minister, was initially tipped as a favorite out of a complete of 25 candidates, together with incumbent President Barham Saleh.
The complainants cited Zebari’s 2016 dismissal from the put up of finance minister by parliament “over fees linked to monetary and administrative corruption”.
Public funds price $1.8 million had been allegedly diverted to pay for airline tickets for his private safety element.
The grievance additionally cited a minimum of two different judicial instances linked to Zebari.
“I’ve not been convicted in any court docket,” Zebari stated in a tv interview final week, as the costs resurfaced on the eve of the scheduled election, alongside forecasts that he would unseat Saleh for the four-year posting.
A brand new date for MPs to elect a president has but to be introduced, and no recent candidate listing has been launched.
Iraqi politics have been in turmoil since common elections had been held in October.
The polls had been marred by record-low turnout, post-election threats and violence, and a delay of a number of months till remaining outcomes had been confirmed.
Intense negotiations amongst political teams have since didn’t kind a majority parliamentary coalition to call a brand new prime minister to succeed Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
