PM-designate Zaidi visits Erbil to meet Kurdish leaders

ERBIL — Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi arrived in Erbil on Saturday accompanied by a Coordination Framework delegation and was received by Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani at Erbil International Airport before meeting KDP leader Masoud Barzani.

The meeting reviewed “the overall situation in the country and the course of dialogue toward forming the new government, emphasizing the importance of unifying visions and positions and working to form a strong government capable of addressing challenges and overcoming crises,” according to a statement from the prime minister’s media office.

The visit comes amid tensions between Baghdad and Erbil. The KDP has boycotted Iraqi parliamentary sessions since April in protest of the mechanism used to elect the president, which it says undermines the principle of political consensus established after 2003. Parliament elected Nizar Amedi as president on April 11 in a second round of voting, with the KDP boycotting the session.

Zaidi is expected to travel to Sulaymaniyah later Saturday to meet with Patriotic Union of Kurdistan officials.

He was nominated Monday by the Coordination Framework following the withdrawal of both Maliki and incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. He has 30 days to form a cabinet, draft a government program and secure parliamentary approval.