Kurdistan Premier: ‘There is no Ambiguity over Presidency Ex

[Aslan]

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani stressed Sunday that both ruling parties are firmly behind the extension of the regional presidency, warning that no one should try to interpret things differently.

The regional parliament earlier this month extended the double-term presidency of Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani by two years, after an agreement between his Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and its ruling partner, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which together hold the majority in the regional parliament.

Opposition parties have been screaming foul over the issue, because the constitution limits the presidency to two four-year terms.

The premier told Rudaw Sunday that the agreement between the political bureaus of both parties on the extension has no ambiguity.

“Both sides adhere to that decision and there is nothing in it that may qualify as disagreement between us,” he said.

The prime minister, who signed the agreement with the PUK on behalf of his party (KDP), also said that both parties insist on reaching an all-party consensus on the constitution.

“We do not want the issue of the constitution to be a dividing factor for the people of Kurdistan,” he said. “We want it to become a social and police unifying force among the people of Kurdistan.”

The region’s opposition parties also insist that the constitution should be sent back to parliament for amendment, but the two allies -- PUK and KDP -- argue that the document was initially approved by all parties and that any change should be decided by people in a public referendum.

However, the prime minister said that whether or not to send the constitution back to parliament is no longer a question.

“In the June 29 agreement we (PUK and KDP) also talked about the constitution and decided to seek a national consensus,” he said.

He said that controversial articles and clauses in the constitution would be identified and then addressed with all the parties.

“After that, we will all make a unanimous decision on how to amend or replace them,” he said.


Comments


2 0 Silemani | 4 hours ago
The extension of Barzanis term is rightful, because all parties, including the opposition voted for the constitution in 2009. So the constitution should go to a referendum and the limit for the presidency would start since then. Barzani could run for 2 new terms. The opposition knows that, thats why they turn against the constitution for which they voted, just to prevent that Barzani runs again, because they know they can not win against Barzani.
Report

2 0 Xelil | 4 hours ago
President Barzani is a leader who unites the Kurds. Barzani became a Pesmerge with 16 and he led the revolution which freed south Kurdistan. Under his rule south Kurdistan improve very fast. Barzani also brought the Kurdish parties in Rojava together which helped Rojava to safe its region from intern Kurdish conflicts. Barzani now also started the preparations for the Kurdish National Conference. Kurdistan needs Barzani and the PDK and not a Islamist and Leftist radical opposition which divides the Kurds.