Iraqi Kurdistan Minister Gets Backing for President

Reber Ahmed supported by Sadr bloc

Iraq’s top Kurdish party, the KDP, appears to be replacing their candidate for Iraqi president, with Hoshyar Zebari being moved aside in favor of Reber Ahmed.

Ahmed is the current Interior Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan, and has reportedly been endorsed by both the KDP and plurality-holder Moqtada al-Sadr’s party.

Zebari was accused of corruption and clearly was to be replaced. Barham Salih, the current president is a member of PUK. He is still running.

Sadr officials say they’d hoped for a consensus Kurdish candidate, but one hasn’t emerged. The KDP has more seats, making it a better partner for Sadr, and making Ahmed the safe choice.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.