Kurds, Sunnis veto Shi’ite PM

Kurds, Sunnis veto Shi’ite PM

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s bid to set up a national unity government was thrown into turmoil yesterday when Kurdish and Sunni political factions rejected the candidacy of outgoing Shi’ite prime minister Ibrahim Jaafari to lead the next cabinet.

The move was the latest setback in the tortuous process of forming a fully representative Iraqi government over two months after general elections, already badly hit by a week of sectarian violence that has left hundreds dead. “The Kurdish and the Sunni groups think that he (Jaafari) is not appropriate and they cannot form a cabinet with him as he is not neutral,” Mahmud Othman, a senior Kurdish lawmaker told AFP.Last month, Jaafari was re-selected for the post of premier by Iraq’s dominant Shi’ite United Iraqi Alliance which won 128 of parliament’s 275 seats in the December general elections.The constitution specifies that the prime minister be selected by the leading party in parliament.But Jaafari, a doctor turned politician, only narrowly won reselection by the Shi’ite religious-based parties, defeating Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi by just one vote.His candidacy is now opposed by two key political factions, the Kurds who are part of the outgoing government coalition and who control 53 seats in the new parliament and the Sunni alliance – National Concord Front – which controls 44 parliamentary seats.Othman said even former premier Iyad Allawi, who controls 25 seats in the new parliament, has raised objections to Jaafari’s candidature.”The Kurdish and the Sunni lists will ask the Shi’ite list to revise their decision about him as the PM candidate,” Othman added.”The prime minister should be somebody who is agreed upon by everyone.They (Kurds and Sunnis) have decided to talk to Shi’ites on this in the next couple of days,” he said.Both groups see Jaafari, who has run the government for much of the past year, as unsuccessful, said Othman, who added “they think the experience with him has not been good and may lead to similar problems in future.”A leader of the main Sunni-based party confirmed their objection to Jaafari’s candidature.”We have nothing against him (Jaafari) but his performance has been below expectations,” said Alaa Maki, parliamentarian and senior leader of Islamic Party, which is part of the National Concord Front alliance.- Nampa-AFP”The Kurdish and the Sunni groups think that he (Jaafari) is not appropriate and they cannot form a cabinet with him as he is not neutral,” Mahmud Othman, a senior Kurdish lawmaker told AFP.Last month, Jaafari was re-selected for the post of premier by Iraq’s dominant Shi’ite United Iraqi Alliance which won 128 of parliament’s 275 seats in the December general elections.The constitution specifies that the prime minister be selected by the leading party in parliament.But Jaafari, a doctor turned politician, only narrowly won reselection by the Shi’ite religious-based parties, defeating Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi by just one vote.His candidacy is now opposed by two key political factions, the Kurds who are part of the outgoing government coalition and who control 53 seats in the new parliament and the Sunni alliance – National Concord Front – which controls 44 parliamentary seats.Othman said even former premier Iyad Allawi, who controls 25 seats in the new parliament, has raised objections to Jaafari’s candidature.”The Kurdish and the Sunni lists will ask the Shi’ite list to revise their decision about him as the PM candidate,” Othman added.”The prime minister should be somebody who is agreed upon by everyone.They (Kurds and Sunnis) have decided to talk to Shi’ites on this in the next couple of days,” he said.Both groups see Jaafari, who has run the government for much of the past year, as unsuccessful, said Othman, who added “they think the experience with him has not been good and may lead to similar problems in future.”A leader of the main Sunni-based party confirmed their objection to Jaafari’s candidature.”We have nothing against him (Jaafari) but his performance has been below expectations,” said Alaa Maki, parliamentarian and senior leader of Islamic Party, which is part of the National Concord Front alliance.- Nampa-AFP

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