KDP seeking new presidency term for Barzani: Sources

[Anthea]

KDP seeking new presidency term for Barzani, say sources

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is seeking a new presidency term for Masoud Barzani – whose two-year presidential term extension expired at midnight on August 20, 2015

Barzani’s second term as president ended in July 2013 but was extended by two years after Kurdish MPs decided the region was not ready to elect a new leader at the time.

That two-year extension expired at midnight on August 20, 2015, but subsequent political infighting prevented the region’s leaders from agreeing on a new president and how to go about appointing one.

Speaking to NRT under a condition of anonymity, a source from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) politburo disclosed that the KDP had expressed a position against changes to be made to the Kurdistan Region’s Presidency, during a meeting with PUK officials on January 11.

Deputy leader of the KDP Nechirvan Barzani told PUK officials that Barzani will remain in his position as president and that his party won’t compromise on it, the source said.

During NRT’s Tawtwe program, PUK politburo member Qadir Aziz confirmed that the “KDP withdrew from its position for changes in the Kurdistan Presidency.”

NRT obtained information that during a PUK and KDP meeting prior to the one held on January 11, the KDP had showed some willingness for change in the Kurdistan Presidency.

Masoud Barzani had urged political parties in a statement on November 20 last year, to establish a new government and select a successor until presidential elections take place.

Crises inside the Kurdistan Region deepened after the five major political parties failed to reach an agreement on the Kurdistan presidency issue in October 2015, following the expiration of the President’s term.

http://www.nrttv.com/EN/Details.aspx?Jimare=12572