KDP Official: KRG’s Current Political Situation “Part of Democratic Process” / Presidential issues have not affected Peshmerga

Basnews | Herman Khalid – 29.08.2015 – ERBIL – Secretary of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) politburo Fazil Mirani has declared that the people should decide the Kurdistan Region’s presidential issues if political parties fail to reach an agreement.

In an interview with Kurdistan TV, a KDP sympathetic outlet, Mirani pointed out that the current political situation in the region is the result of a democratic process in which people can voice their opinion freely.He stressed that the disputes have not had an impact on the Peshmerga and frontlines. “The political process in Kurdistan region is not, by any means, at risk,” Mirani added.“If the parties fail to reach an agreement, the people of the Kurdistan Region should make the final decision over the presidential issues.”Iraqi Kurdistan is embroiled in a complicated political situation as four of the main parties, including Gorran (Change) Movement, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and the Islamic Group of Kurdistan, have suggested amendments to the Presidency law, saying that the President must be elected by parliament.The KDP, in return, insists that only direct votes by the people can elect the president. The five main Kurdish parties are locked in negotiations, and have reportedly reached agreement on some points.Mirani said, “We need to compromise over the issue as our enemies are waiting for our failure.”