Barzani Accepts Extended Presidency, Says He Was Not Interes

[Aslan]

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The president of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan Region Massoud Barzani ended weeks of speculations on Tuesday by accepting a parliamentary decision that extended his presidency for two more years.

“After consultation with most of Kurdistan’s political parties, I decided not to reject the extension of my term,” Barzani said in a speech.

On June 30, the Kurdish parliament decided to extend Barzani’s presidency for two more years, following an agreement by the two ruling parties, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Barzani’s own Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which hold the majority of seats in the regional legislature.

Barzani did not sign the copy of the parliamentary decree sent to him on the extension within the 15 days he was expected to, but according to parliamentary rules it still automatically goes into effect.

“I now stand before an alliance with the PUK and other parties that are present in parliament and who decided to extend my presidency without my own participation in the decision,” Barzani said his in speech.

Barzani said that he respected the will of parliament, as well as the people of Kurdistan who had voted for that parliament.

“And from this moment on, I ask the parliament to resolve the issue of the constitution and find a new mechanism for the election of president within one year,” said Barzani.

In the meantime, Barzani criticized opposition groups for creating a political crisis and not heeding to his calls for a consensus to resolve a months-long political stalemate.

“But let me tell the people of Kurdistan that I was not interested in running again for president,” Barzani continued. “I will abide by the law and hand over this task to whoever the people will elect.”

The support of PUK leaders and their MPs in parliament was crucial in extending Barzani’s presidency. However, many PUK members were dismayed by their party’s unconditional alliance with the KDP.

Following parliament’s decision on the extension, PUK and KDP leaders said that the move was to prevent a power vacuum while all parties were in the middle of amending the constitution and drafting a new election law.

The political bureau of the PUK released a statement on Tuesday, congratulating Barzani on the extension and describing his acceptance as “a responsible act”.

Meanwhile, leaders of Kurdistan’s three opposition groups, the Change Movement (Gorran), the Islamic Union and the Islamic League have said they will gather to discuss Barzani’s decision and pick their next course of action.

Abdullah Malanuri, a Gorran MP, said that opposition MPs may consider pulling out of parliament in protest.


Comments


0 4 Amo | 10 hours ago
Democracy is dead. Well at least it is official now, and they don't pretend that they champion freedom and democracy. Well at least we still have our national leader huh?
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0 5 Professor Povoski | 8 hours ago
"Barzani said that he respected the will of parliament, as well as the people of Kurdistan who had voted for that parliament". NO, the people voted for that parliament in 2009 for a limited period of time, which means your tenure ended this year! So how can you extend your presidency? what legitimacy do you? Even if you do not seek another term after your illegal extension nothing will change. Either your Son, the new Uday will take over or Nechrivan. And after them, It will be Nechrivan's son, Idris and perhaps Masroor's son. Down with dictatorship. They have become everything that we despised in Saddam's government.
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8 0 Basur | 7 hours ago
The decision of President Barzani is absolutly correct. If the referendum about the constitution would be held for which all parties voted, including the opposition, the presidential limit would start since then and Barzani could run for 2 new terms. There would be normal presidential elections, where Barzani would win with 70% according to a survey. The dirty opposition knows that and they fear Barzanis popularity, they know that they can not win against Barzani, thats why they turned against the constitution for which they voted in 2009, just to prevent Barzanis candidacy.
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3 0 Silemani | 7 hours ago
Kurdistan needs Barzani, there is no other man who have his knowledge about policy or war tactics, he is a great President and Commander. Barzani led the revolution 1991 which freed south Kurdistan, he is a national hero.
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4 0 Polla | 7 hours ago
Good to see that the PDK and YNK are united, their alliance is important for the stability in Kurdidstan. But the ideological differences of the opposition is catastrophic, Leftists and Islamists, there could not be a bigger diffrent. In the opposition it is easy for them to work together, because the only thing this dirty opposition do is to be against the KRG. But in the government they would have so many disputes, they would destroy Kurdistan in a short time with their disputes. This Taliban Communist opposition not even managed to nominate a candidate for the presidency, because of their ideological dispute. Forget this failed opposition, Kurdistan improve very fast under the rule of President Barzani and the PDK.

[Anthea]

Kurdistan needs a strong parliament and a strong leader - those who cause disruption do not do so for the Kurdish good

Kurdistan needs strong politicians who will unite and build on the current strengths and growth of Kurdistan - the Movement for Change and the Islamic groups do NOT have the best interests of the Kurdish population - they have shown themselves to be far too disruptive to be an asset to the Kurdish government

With the current state of religious conflict within Iraq - the last thing Kurdistan needs is disruptive Islamic groups becoming more involved in the Kurdish political arena

[Shirko]

So do you think tribal parties are the way to go?

Kurdistan needs a strong parliament and a strong leader - those who cause disruption do not do so for the Kurdish good

Kurdistan needs strong politicians who will unite and build on the current strengths and growth of Kurdistan - the Movement for Change and the Islamic groups do NOT have the best interests of the Kurdish population - they have shown themselves to be far too disruptive to be an asset to the Kurdish government

With the current state of religious conflict within Iraq - the last thing Kurdistan needs is disruptive Islamic groups becoming more involved in the Kurdish political arena

[Anthea]

So do you think tribal parties are the way to go?

Not at all - but due to the disruption in the rest of Iraq and the political problems in Turkey - I feel strongly that Kurdistan needs to show a strong untied front to the international community

I actually support the Gorran Party - they were good - they were working towards change - they are anti-corruption - but at this moment in time - when Kurdistan no longer has the benefit of Jalal Talabani's experience and expertise - I do not believe it would be in Kurdistan's best interest to lose Barzani

[Anthea]

I have been thinking long and hard about Barzani's extended presidency

From all that I have gleaned over the past few weeks I conclude that:

Because Barzani was the sitting president at the time of constitutional amendments those changes should have not be applied to him

As above post - and in view of yet more bombings in Iraq - Barzani is desperately needed to try and intercede between the warring factions inside the Iraqi government

I am extremely annoyed by the senseless arguments taking place among would-be Kurdish political leaders in Kurdistan

Love him or hate him NOBODY is better suited at running Kurdistan than President Barzani