Iraqi prime minister-designate Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi and head of the leading Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Masoud Barzani discussed efforts to form a new government, announced KDP top official Arafat Karam.
Karam criticized some Shiite political forces for giving themselves the right to appoint the prime minister and seeking at the same time to prevent the Kurds from naming their ministers.
He told Rudaw media network that the KDP is the largest party in Iraq and boasts the greatest number of lawmakers and therefore, it will not take part in the new government if Allawi decides to appoint ministers without consulting it.
Barzani declared that no one can choose ministers on behalf of the Kurds, he added.
Karam wondered why Shiites have the right to choose the prime minister, but they prevent the Kurds and Sunnis from choosing their ministers. Everyone knows that Allawi was named after an agreement between was reached between the Sairoon and Fateh blocs.
The KDP, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Gorran Movement share the same stance on the negotiations to form the new government, he continued.
Head of the Kurdistan Islamic Union bloc in parliament Jamal Kochar said so far no official discussions have been held with the Kurds about forming the government, stressing that the Kurds must approve the Kurdish candidates no matter how independent they are.
The Kurdish ministers must be named by the Kurdish Presidency or the Regional Government, he stated.
MP of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Sherwan Mirza explained that both Kurds and Sunni forces have reservation about the government formation and they want to be consulted in naming ministers.
