Iraq's independent presidential candidate Sardar Abdulla aims to restore 'full sovereignty'

Independent presidential candidate Sardar Abdulla has pledged to refuse to nominate former premier Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister if elected, presenting himself as an alternative to Iraq's established political order amid increasing domestic and international pressure.

In an interview with The New Arab, Abdulla argued that Iraq's presidency is often wrongly viewed as ceremonial, despite what he described as "substantial constitutional powers."

"The Iraqi president is not a symbolic figure. The constitution grants the office real authority, but it has not been exercised properly," he said.

After the US-led invasion and occupation of the country in 2003, Iraq's power-sharing system has given the presidency to a Kurd, the prime minister’s office to a Shia Muslim, and the speaker of parliament to a Sunni Muslim. Since 2005, the presidency has alternated between candidates from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), underscoring the dominance of the two main parties in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Abdulla, a former member of parliament, said that having just two main parties has limited the introduction of new ideas and reduced the presidency's power in Baghdad. He pointed to Jalal Talabani as the only Kurdish president who truly made the role effective.

"After Talabani, the presidency lost much of its weight. The problem was political performance, not constitutional limits," he said.

Refusing Maliki

Iraq has been mired in political deadlock for months since the closely contested November elections. Parliament has been unable to elect a president, which has delayed the naming of a prime minister and the formation of a new government.

Even though Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani’s group won the most seats, other Shia groups in the Coordination Framework have backed Maliki as their choice for prime minister.

Abdulla made it clear that he would not support Maliki's nomination.

"If I am elected president, I will not assign Maliki to form a government," he said. "This is not about personal disagreements. It is about Iraq's stability and reputation. The president must not nominate someone who could expose the country to further crisis or isolation."

He argued that political debate in Iraq has become too personalised. "The issue should not be who supports Maliki and who opposes him. The real question is who protects Iraq's interests."

The political crisis has become more serious after Iraq confirmed it got a verbal warning from the United States about possible sanctions if Maliki comes back to office.

Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told Al-Shariqia TV that the US message referred to potential sanctions on specific individuals and institutions if Maliki were elected prime minister. He confirmed Iraq had received the message and urged the Coordination Framework to meet and discuss the issue.

On Thursday evening, the Coordination Framework, the largest parliamentary bloc and a supporter of Maliki, planned to meet to discuss the US warning and the ongoing political deadlock.

Abdulla said he hopes Iraq can avoid sanctions, but stressed that the president must be ready to make tough choices.

"The next president must be strong and independent. He must not yield to the will of any political faction or any foreign state," he said.

Sovereignty and foreign relations

He explained that this does not mean opposing neighbouring countries, including Iran. Abdulla also pointed out the importance of Iraq's ties with the Arab world and the need to rebuild them.

Regarding Tehran, Abdulla said Iraq's interests should always come first. He admitted that Iran has a lot of influence over Iraqi politics and the economy, which he believes has sometimes changed Iraq's policies.

Abdulla pointed to Baghdad's rejection of a two-state solution for the Palestinians as an example of following Iran's stance instead of Iraq's own. He asked how Iraq can support Palestinian rights but not their statehood, blaming this on Iranian influence. Abdulla finished by saying he wants good relations with Iran, but Tehran must stop interfering and respect Iraq's independence.

Abdulla described his candidacy as an effort to restore Iraq's "full sovereignty" in decision-making. He said Iran's significant influence in Iraqi politics is clear, and vowed to reshape these relations based on mutual respect and non-interference.

"We need good neighbourly relations with Iran, but Iraq must be treated as a sovereign state," he said.

He also said Iraq should maintain strong ties with the United States and build balanced relationships with other major countries, such as Russia and China.

"Iraq should not be an arena for regional or international rivalry. Our national interests must guide our foreign policy," he said.

With tensions rising in the region and Iraq facing economic and diplomatic challenges, Abdulla said the presidency could help steady the country during these uncertain times.

"This is a decisive moment," he said. "Iraq needs an experienced and independent president who can lead it towards stability and protect it during difficult times."