MESOP: HERO IBRAHIM (TALABANI) & GORRAN CONTRA KAK KOSRET & BARHAM SALIH

PUK and Gorran Plan Joint List for Early Election – Islamic parties invited to join

Basnews | Karzan Sabah Hawrami – 01.09.2015 14:48 – SULAYMANIYAH – The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Gorran (Change) Movement are working on a joint strategy for a possible early election if negotiations concerning reform to the presidency fail.

With the hope of reaching a multilateral consensus fading, a snap election or referendum appear more likely to resolve the issues in the Kurdistan Region. BasNews has learned that PUK Politburo member Hero Ibrahim Ahmad, who commands great influence in the party, recently met with the General Coordinator of Gorran Nawshirwan Mustafa to discuss a joint strategy for any future election or referendum. A source told BasNews that the PUK and Gorran are deeply concerned about an early election, which has been proposed by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). “They believe that the KDP has tabled the option as it is feeling completely confident that the result serve its interests,” the source said.

Senior PUK official Ahmad Ghadafari confirmed to BasNews that there is an option for the PUK and Gorran to participate in the referendum or early election with a combined list. However, PUK Deputy Secretary Generals, Kosrat Rasool and Barham Salih, disagree with the proposal.The PUK and Gorran are also attempting to bring the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and the Kurdistan Islamic Group over to their position so as to compete against the KDP with greater influence; but the KIU has so far refused to join the plan.