Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
BAGHDAD, Iraq - (AP) President Jalal Talabani has indicated he
may not be interested in a second term as president because the post is
largely ceremonial with few executive powers, his office said Tuesday.
Talabani said in a statement that "this post that I was elected for
has not tempted me." Talabani was elected by parliament in April as the
country's first Kurdish president.
The interim constitution drafted during the U.S.-led occupation gave
most of the powers to the prime minister and made the post of president
largely ceremonial. Iraq's new constitution also gave nearly all executive
powers to the prime minister.
Asked whether he wanted to run for president again, Talabani said:
"Frankly, such a decision goes back to the leadership of the Kurdish
Alliance but I personally will not accept to nominate myself with the
current powers."
"I will not accept to be a ceremonial president. Therefore, as Jalal
Talabani, I refuse to run with the current powers," he said. "The president
should have powers similar to those of the prime minister."
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
may not be interested in a second term as president because the post is
largely ceremonial with few executive powers, his office said Tuesday.
Talabani said in a statement that "this post that I was elected for
has not tempted me." Talabani was elected by parliament in April as the
country's first Kurdish president.
The interim constitution drafted during the U.S.-led occupation gave
most of the powers to the prime minister and made the post of president
largely ceremonial. Iraq's new constitution also gave nearly all executive
powers to the prime minister.
Asked whether he wanted to run for president again, Talabani said:
"Frankly, such a decision goes back to the leadership of the Kurdish
Alliance but I personally will not accept to nominate myself with the
current powers."
"I will not accept to be a ceremonial president. Therefore, as Jalal
Talabani, I refuse to run with the current powers," he said. "The president
should have powers similar to those of the prime minister."
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.