The Federal Supreme Court of Iraq suspended former foreign minister and Kurdish politician Hoshyar Zebari’s candidacy for president Sunday during the pendency of a case seeking his disqualification over corruption allegations. On Monday, Iraq’s parliament reportedly lacked the quorum to hold a session and indefinitely postponed the vote for the president.

Iraq’s state news agency reported that the court has “decided to suspend the procedures for electing (Zebari) for the post of President of the Republic temporarily until the case is resolved.” The Supreme Court said that the suspension was necessary, as Article 68 of Iraq’s constitution requires the president to be of “good reputation” and “free of any conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude.” Accordingly, the court found that Zebari’s candidacy would be “unconstitutional” unless the case is resolved first. 

The complaints stem from corruption allegations against him. These allegations arose in 2016, which resulted in his removal from his post as finance minister by a vote of no confidence. Four members of parliament moved the federal court against Zebari, citing charges linked to financial and administrative corruption. The complaint alleged that $1.8 million from the public exchequer were diverted to fund the travel of his personal security team. The complaint also alluded to judicial cases dating back to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, at which time he was Iraq’s foreign minister.

Zebari is a nominee of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and one of the two frontrunners for the nominal office of president. His chief opponent is incumbent Barham Salih, representing the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Iraq’s constitution provides that the president must be elected by a two-thirds majority of the parliament.

In light of Zebari’s suspension, KDP leaders announced that they would boycott the parliamentary session. On Monday, Iraq’s parliament indefinitely postponed the vote because it lacked the quorum to hold a session.