ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The way to resolve problems between Erbil and Baghdad is to have a strong voice in the Iraqi capital, said the KDP’s nominee for the president of Iraq, arguing that he is up for the job.

“The solution to all disputes between Erbil and Baghdad lie in Baghdad. Therefore a strong Kurdish presence in Baghdad will lead to solutions. A marginalized presence would only deepen and prolong the problems,” Fuad Hussein said in a press conference on Tuesday in Baghdad.

The KDP is backing Hussein as their man against the PUK’s candidate Barham Salih in a bid to give a little shake up to the division of power between them.

Salih has not made any public statements since his nomination.

Hussein said that the KDP nominating him for the presidency “speaks volumes about the will to resolve all disputes between Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.”

The PUK has held the post of president of Iraq since 2005 as part of power-sharing agreements. The KDP, however, is arguing that they deserve the position in light of their strong showing in the elections.

Hussein is campaigning for votes in a visit to Baghdad, meeting with Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi and heads of political blocs.

Hussein is not officially aligned with any political party though he has previously been a member of both the KDP and the PUK.

He has worked within Kurdish and Iraqi politics in Erbil, Baghdad, and Europe and in his comments to the press stressed his commitment to diversity, democracy in Iraq, and autonomy for Kurdistan.

Campaigning for the ceremonial head of state of Iraq, Hussein said that it is time to “change the way of doing politics in Baghdad,” highlighting the need for an “active leadership” and a balanced foreign policy, “which means we deal with other countries and we must respect each other’s sovereignty and never interference in each other’s internal affairs.”

Hussein may find it hard to gain votes from Iraqi politicians because of his strong support for the Kurdistan independence referendum that was widely opposed in Baghdad.

“The referendum was not illegal,” he said. “The Iraqi constitution itself was endorsed in a referendum. The Kurds only expressed themselves through a referendum and it is not illegal. On the contrary, referendums are good for democracy.”

The parliament will vote for the president on October 2.

Iraqi political leaders have advised the Kurdish parties to select just one candidate or they will do it for them.

Hussein said the dispute over the position should be solved by Kurdish MPs in Baghdad with the Iraqi parliament having the final say.

Rudaw