Iraq’s federal court to announce ruling on KDP presidential candidate on Sunday

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq’s top court is set to declare its ruling on the constitutionality of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Hoshyar Zebari’s candidacy for the republic’s presidency on Sunday. 

A day before the Iraqi parliament’s session to elect the Iraqi president on Feb. 6, the Iraqi court decided to temporarily suspend Zebari’s candidacy after lawmakers filed alleged corruption charges against him. 

Zebari denied all allegations against him and said he respected the court’s decision. 

The court is expected to announce its ruling on Sunday, Serwan Ismail, the parliament’s secretary-general, previously announced. 

The former finance and foreign affairs minister will hold a press conference in Baghdad’s Green Zone on Sunday afternoon, Vian Dakhil, the spokesperson for the KDP Iraq parliament bloc, announced on Saturday. 

Dakhil did not elaborate on what Zebari will discuss at the conference. 

Zebari has not withdrawn from his candidacy, Masoud Haydar, the KDP president’s advisor, tweeted on Saturday, calling the rumors “baseless”. 

The KDP candidate’s main rival for the largely ceremonial post is incumbent President Barham Salih of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). 

Including Zebari and Salih, there are 25 candidates for the Iraqi presidency in total.