Kurds: We should choose Iraq’s next president

Iraqi forces seized full control of the Kirkuk’s Airport, 70th brigade command of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Kirkuk’s Northern Oil Company, the Baba Gurgur oil field and K1 Military base in southeastern Kirkuk as part of a military operation in the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, according to a military officer on 16 October 2017 [Stringer/Anadolu Agency]

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan has insisted that the next president of Iraq should come from within their political circle, Jordanian newspaper Assabeel reported yesterday.

Sources from the union’s political bureau leaked information following an internal meeting held to choose the president of the republic. Prominent candidates were said to be Barham Saleh, who defected from the union a year ago, Mullah Bakhtiar and the current President of Iraq Fuad Masum.

The union is likely to put Saleh forward as he is seen to be acceptable to Baghdad, enjoys a consensus among the Kurdish party, has good management and executive expertise and maintains good political relations.

READ: Iraq agrees to delay parliament speaker’s election

Senior leader of the union, Hakem Qader Hama-Jan, said: “We have understandings with the Democratic Kurdish Party since 2007, our main political partner in the Republic [of Iraq], that the president must be from the Patriotic Union headed by Jalal Talabani.”

Hama-Jan added: “This became a fixed norm in the political process.”

On Sunday, the parliament speaker announced that nominations presidency are now open.

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