Debate over Kurdistan Region Constitution Goes to Parliament

[Aslan]

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – All political parties in the Kurdistan Region have given their written views on how to resolve a deadlock over the draft constitution, and these have been sent to parliament which will begin debating the issue on Sunday, a presidential spokesman said.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Massoud Barzani had asked all political parties to present their views, which he then forwarded to the parliament, said his spokesman, Omed Sabah.

“After they were asked by President Barzani to say what they want done with the constitution, all political parties have answered his call,” Sabah said. “He sent the report to parliament so that the special parliamentary committee for the constitution meets with representatives of the parties and finds a solution together,” Sabah added.

Barzani’s move may end months of tension between Kurdistan’s political parties.

Kurdistan parties have been divided over the issue of the autonomous region’s draft constitution. Opposition groups say it must be returned to parliament for amendments, while Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) says that the people must decide in a referendum whether to ratify or amend the draft.

According to Sabah, Barzani sent the responses of the political groups to parliament after he studied them himself.

Tariq Jawhar, a public relations official in parliament, confirmed that the assembly has received Barzani’s document, and will begin debating it on Sunday.

“On Sunday, the parliament will study and assess Barzani’s document that contains the views of all the different political parties and seek a legal solution,” said Jawhar.

Kurdish political parties were upset when Barzani told a crowd of supporters last month, “No one has the power to send the constitution back to Parliament except the people.”

In response, leaders of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) -- the region’s second largest party and the KDP’s ally in government – began siding with the opposition over the past few weeks, demanding the amendments.

But on Thursday, PUK deputy secretary general and former prime minister Barham Salih, said that his party welcomes Barzani’s proposal.

“The PUK values Barzani’s step and fully supports it,” Salih told the pukmedia.com, his party’s mouthpiece. “As a national duty, the PUK will stand by the president and parliament on this issue,” he said.

“We also ask all political parties, as well as the media outlets, to deal with this opportunity responsibly,” he urged.

COMMENTS:

Silemani |
Good to see that the PDK and YNK normalize their relations again. For the elections they must be united against the hateful opposition, which is against everything what have to do with the KRG. Other people in the middel east pray for such a government that south Kurdistan have, which brings improvement to Kurdistan day by day. But the radical opposition is against everything, Kurds should never forget that the radical opposition even tried to bring the arab spring to Kurdistan in 2011 which would destroy Kurdistan. The majority of the Kurds support the PDK and Barzani.

[Anthea]

Good to see that the PDK and YNK normalize their relations again. For the elections they must be united against the hateful opposition, which is against everything what have to do with the KRG. Other people in the middel east pray for such a government that south Kurdistan have, which brings improvement to Kurdistan day by day. But the radical opposition is against everything, Kurds should never forget that the radical opposition even tried to bring the arab spring to Kurdistan in 2011 which would destroy Kurdistan. The majority of the Kurds support the PDK and Barzani.

Kurds should keep the arabs and their so-called arab spring out of Kurdistan PERMANENTLY

The arabs would like nothing better than to de-stabilise Kurdistan

“The PUK values Barzani’s step and fully supports it,” Salih told the pukmedia.com, his party’s mouthpiece. “As a national duty, the PUK will stand by the president and parliament on this issue,” he said.

The conflicts of the past are over - Kurdistan has grown politically and economically - there is no going back - Kurdistan becomes stronger every day