Gorran says ‘no’ to extension for President Barzani

Kurdistan Tribune – 10.4.2013 – According to KT’s reliable sources, the Gorran movement has decided to reject a request from the Kurdistan Region’s two ruling parties that it support an extension to the presidency of Masud Barzani.



According to the rules, President Barzani should stand down in July, because he will have served two terms, and new presidential elections should be held. However, a delegation from the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) visited the Gorran leadership this weekend asking that Barzani be allowed to stay on for another term without an election. Gorran’s leaders have turned down this request but they are concerned that the ruling parties will try to change the law to secure an extension for Barzani.