The political landscape still indicates that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) will field separate candidates in the presidential election, while the Coordination Framework (Shia) forces affirm their support for a joint candidate representing both parties for the position.
Ahmed al-Asadi, the Iraqi Minister of Labor and Social Affairs and a prominent leader in the Coordination Framework (within Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's list), told Rudaw Media Network: "We support dialogue between the KDP and the PUK to reach an agreement on the presidency."
Hikma Movement: We Support a Single Candidate
Zahra Kazim, a member of the political bureau of the Hikma Movement headed by Ammar al-Hakim, told Rudaw that "the Coordination Framework's position is clear and unwavering: we support the KDP and PUK fielding a single, agreed-upon candidate in the presidential election."
She added: "This is the same approach and mechanism that the Coordination Framework followed and supported in dealing with the Sunni political forces to finalize their candidate for the position of Speaker of Parliament." She indicated that the two parties' agreement on a joint candidate offers numerous benefits for the current phase, including "accelerating constitutional procedures, strengthening political stability, and solidifying the principle of partnership."
Badr Organization: Nizar Amidi Has a Better Chance
In the same context, Abu Mithaq al-Masari, a member of the political bureau of the Badr Organization headed by Hadi al-Amiri, told Rudaw Media Network on Wednesday: "We support having a single Kurdish candidate for the presidency of Iraq, and we will accept any candidate who enjoys the consensus of the Kurdish political forces."
Al-Masari added: "If the candidates are determined by majority vote rather than consensus, we will discuss their visions and programs with them, and then decide who is most suitable to give our votes to."
According to a statement from the Iraqi Parliament, 81 people have submitted their candidacies for the position, and Rudaw's monitoring shows that 33 of them are Kurds.
The coordination framework regarding the position of President of the Republic: We call on the Democratic Party and the National Union to agree on a joint candidate.
