According to BasNews, the KDP has so far rejected the propose, insisting that Fuad Hussein would compete against PUK’s Barham Salih for presidency.
Member of PUK leadership, Hama Saeed, said in a statement to BasNews that his party would agree to any position in Baghdad or Erbil to go to the KDP if it withdraws its nominee from the presidential race.
“The KDP and PUK should conclude this issue at the negotiating table in order to avoid harming the unity of Kurdish political parties in Baghdad politics,” Saeed argued.
However, Ali Awni, a member of KDP’s leadership council, said his party does not view the Iraqi presidency merely as a political position to be traded for alternative positions.
“It’s rather a position that the KDP deserves to hold based on its election results. The KDP believes that it would be able to serve the people of Kurdistan better through this position,” Awni explained.
“In the previous terms, the KDP gave away some positions to other parties in hopes of preserving the unity in the Kurdish front, but they failed to seize opportunities where they could serve the people of Kurdistan,” he added.
After the PUK unilaterally decided on its presidency candidate, the KDP announced that it nominates Fuad Hussein, former chief of staff of Kurdistan Region Presidency.
The PUK announced Barham Salih as its nominee after the party persuaded the politician to abandon his newly established party and rejoin the PUK.
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