Kurdistan Opposition Divided Over Joining Next Government -

[Aslan]

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Last month’s parliamentary elections in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan Region appear to have created divisions among opposition parties, which are voicing separate opinions about participation in the next government coalition.

Since its 24-seat win in the September 21 polls, the leading opposition Change Movement (Gorran) is girding to replace its rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Any coalition would include the dominant Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which swept the polls with 38 seats and will retain its partnership in the KRG.

“Every political party’s goal is to reach power and use that power to implement its agenda,” said Kardo Muhammad, the head of Gorran’s parliamentary group. “I certainly see taking the government or joining a coalition in government as more of a positive thing,” he added.

Before the polls, Gorran leader Nawshirwan Mustafa had told the party to prepare for a place in government.

Following its foundation in 2009 and winning 25 parliamentary seats that same year, Gorran declined calls to join the government and went into opposition.

Since then Gorran, the Islamic Union and Islamic League (Komal) have acted more-or-less as a united opposition. Now, while the Islamic Union and Komal want to continue the opposition alliance, Gorran wants a chance to act on its reformist agenda.

“I think it is better if the opposition groups join a broad-based government,” said Omar Abdulaziz, head of the Islamic Union parliamentary group.

Abdulaziz, whose party won only nine places in the 111-seat regional parliament, said that opposition groups should act in concert. “It is better than going their separate ways,” said Abdulaziz, whose party also is eyeing ministerial posts.

Komal leaders also have been contemplating a continuation of their opposition role.

“I think it is important to have an opposition in Kurdistan,” said Aram Qadir, head of Komal’s parliamentary bloc. “It doesn’t matter which party it is.” He said that a strong watchdog is necessary to speak out against the official corruption that is widely accepted to be prevalent in government institutions.

Most political groups have bowed to the results of last month’s elections, though Komal leaders believe there were great irregularities at the polls and have filed complaints with the Election Commission.

[talsor]

The biggest fear is Goran joining the government and still acting like an opposition which most certainly will destabilize the entire region of Kurdistan . Now that they won the second largest votes in Kurdistan , people would expect them to start implement their agenda and fulfill their promises and that is not going to happen except in lala land .

It is easy to talk nasty and make all sort of accusation towards the government , but when you are the government and given Goran's history I believe that their attacks towards KDP will even increase leading to people losing faith in the government .

Goran's goal is not to be an active participant in the government , their goal is to be the sole power holder with KDP magically disappearing .

Funny thing is that no one wants to be part of the government so far , because yelling , screaming and boycotting the parliament 6 months a year is a much easier job with almost zero responsibilities and it brings even more votes .

[Anthea]

In UK our strongest party is the Conservative party but it was not strong enough to rule on its own so it formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats - I cannot see any reason why the KDP cannot form a coalition government with the PUK

It is obvious that the Gorran movement is out to cause trouble and by its own volition it does not want to work with he KDP so why give them a chance to ruin Kurdistan

Conservatives: 306 seats

Labour: 257 seats

Liberal Democrats: 57

[talsor]

In UK our strongest party is the Conservative party but it was not strong enough to rule on its own so it formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats - I cannot see any reason why the KDP cannot form a coalition government with the PUK

I doubt that PUK would join the government this time around and they did mention that won't several times . They blame their lose in the election to their soft approach towards KDP . YES , the Soran and Bedinan issue does not seem to die .
They did fairly well in the government and i think they should be proud . I believe the bad election results are directly related to lack of leadership and their total refusal to replace Mam Jelaal which pissed off many young people .

[Anthea]

I believe the bad election results are directly related to lack of leadership and their total refusal to replace Mam Jelaal which pissed off many young people .

I agree with you 200%

Talabani is obviously still very ill - it is only logical to replace him - and the party desperately needs younger representatives

It is not disrespectful to replace a man such as Talabani - he will always be regarded with the highest respect for all that he has done - it is nobodies fault that he became ill just a sad fact - the top party members should have realised that not replacing him would be a big mistake

I suspect that the party leaders had discussed replacing Talabani but were probably much too busy arguing among themselves as to who should take over the leadership to actually make any changes