The Federal Supreme Court of Iraq (FSC) Sunday barred former foreign minister and Kurdish politician, Hoshyar Zebari, from representing the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Iraq’s presidential race, citing outstanding corruption allegations against him. Zebari said that, although he respects the judiciary, the decision is an “injustice.”

Zebari has been a frontrunner in Iraq’s ongoing presidential race alongside incumbent Barham Salih, who represents the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. On February 6, the eve of the parliament’s session to elect a president by two-thirds majority, the FSC suspended Zebari’s presidential bid over a complaint by four parliamentarians alleging financial and administrative corruption.

The corruption allegations cited in the complaint arose in 2016. These allegations resulted in Zebari’s removal from his post as finance minister by a vote of no confidence. The complaint alleged that $1.8 million from the public exchequer were diverted to fund the travel of Zebari’s personal security team. The complaint also alluded to judicial cases dating back to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, at which time Zebari was Iraq’s foreign minister.

Following his suspension, KDP leaders announced that they would boycott the session of parliament. Because there was a lack of quorum, the session was postponed indefinitely. New dates for the election have not been announced, but new candidate nominations are currently being accepted. President Barham Salih is to remain in office until the new president is elected.

The KDP currently holds more parliamentary seats than any other Kurdish party in Iraq’s parliament. A member of the KDP, Mahdi Abdul Karim, revealed to Iraq’s state news agency that the KDP might nominate a consensual candidate with the National Union. Such a candidate will represent a tripartite alliance and must be agreeable to the KDP, the Sadrist movement, and the Sovereignty Alliance.