Iraqi presidential candidate says backed by top parliamentary alliance

In an interview with state television, Zebari highlighted "the good relationship" between the KDP, the legislature's largest Sunni bloc, as well as the Sadrist Movement, which was the top election winner in October.
Hoshyar Zebari in an interview with the state-owned Al-Iraqiya TV. (Photo: Al-Iraqiya TV)
Hoshyar Zebari in an interview with the state-owned Al-Iraqiya TV. (Photo: Al-Iraqiya TV)

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraqi presidential candidate Hoshyar Zebari, a senior Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) member, stated on Saturday he is backed by the Sadrist Movement and the Sunni Alliance of Sovereignty in the national assembly.

In an interview with state television, Zebari highlighted "the good relationship" between the KDP, the legislature's largest Sunni bloc, as well as the Sadrist Movement, which was the top election winner in October.

He also noted KDP President Masoud Barzani's recent "positive" initiative aimed to bring together the Sadrists and other Shiite parties, rejecting claims of attempts to sow division.

Read More: Leading Iraqi parties welcome President Barzani initiative to end political gridlock

"We are in favor of finding a solution to the crisis between the Sadrist Movement and the Coordination Framework," he said, affirming, "It is not in our interest to have a governmental or constitutional vacuum in the country."

The Coordination Framework is an alliance of political representatives of pro-Iran militia groups, including former transportation minister Hadi al-Amiri's Fatah Alliance and Qais Khazali's Asaib Ahl al-Haq, as well as the State of Law coalition of former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Zebari called for the acceleration of efforts to "form a government with the broad participation of national forces" and reiterated that the alliance between the KDP, the Sunni coalition, and the Sadrists is "strong and coherent."

He noted further that the three political forces are committed to cracking down on non-state actors that operate outside the law, integrating different armed groups into the Iraqi forces, and strengthening the state's authority.

The official dismissed claims they were attempting to harm the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella organization of largely Iran-aligned militias, which includes groups associated with perpetrators of rocket attacks on Iraqi bases hosting anti-ISIS coalition troops and the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, where government buildings and diplomatic offices are located.

Zebari also explained that the tripartite alliance had agreed to a resolution to the budget issue between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Iraqi government.

"My candidacy for the presidency is definitive," he said, adding that "voting requires two-thirds of the parliament, and we have to mobilize to get the sufficient number."

He then referred to Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) candidates who had been president for 17 years. While affirming the KDP remains "partners" with the PUK and against Kurdish disunity, Zebari stated his party is entitled to the position after its election victory.

"There are national concerns from Basra to Zakho that need solutions, and we believe that the tripartite alliance's program will succeed because the people support it," he said, adding the three sides will work to restore Iraq's "Arab and Islamic roots."

The Kurdish official then highlighted Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's efforts at bridging dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia, affirming that the alliance does not want Iraq "to be a battlefield" nor a launchpad for attacks on neighboring states.