Iraq: PUK appoints Saleh for presidency

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) held a meeting in Sulaimaniyah, in the presence of Bafel Jalal Talabani, during which he discussed the current political situation in Iraq and the constitutional entitlements of Iraqi Kurdistanis in establishing the new federal government.

The leadership council discussed the options before the PUK and decided to "provide full support for the success of the PUK candidate comrade Barham Ahmad Saleh for the post of president of the republic."

The council affirmed the necessity of "uniting the stances of the Kurdistani forces" considering that "the post of the president of the republic is an entitlement to the Kurds and the national union."

Earlier this month, the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) had announced two candidates for the presidency of the republic.

Mohamed Al-Halbousi had won the speakership earlier this month with 200 votes, against the 14 won by his rival, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani. Later, Al-Halbousi announced the opening of nominations for the post of President of the Republic, declaring that the period will be 15 days, before raising the hearing.