MESOP SOUTH KURDISTAN : Kurds finally reach agreement on new government

17.04.2014 – Kurdo Shaban – BasNews, Erbil – In a press conference held by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Gorran (Change Movement), Gorran declared that they would participate in the new government. On Thursday, after much discussion, Gorran accepted the suggestions for government posts given to them by the KDP. In a press conference held by Gorran official Omar Saied Ali and the head of the KDP’s politburo, Fazil Mirani, Ali publicly announced that Gorran would participate in the new government. “We have signed the agreement with Gorran,” said Mirani, and Ali added, “Next week, the Kurdistan Parliament will choose the parliament speaker from Gorran party.”

The agreement between KDP and Gorran is based on the following:

First: Forming a consensus and unitary government that reflects the results of the election and respects people’s votes.

Second: Creating a mutual committee that includes members from all the political parties of the new government, to make plans for reforms and to establish governmental offices in the Kurdistan Region without the self-interested interventions of political parties.

Third: Activating the Kurdistan Parliament to function independently in legislating, supervising and investigating the duties of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).  

Fourth: Following the principles of mutual governing in which all participating parties have a share in authority and the decision-making process. In relation to this point, Gorran will have the following posts in the new government:

– Peshmerga Minister

– Finance & the Economy Minister

– Trade & Industry Minister

– Endowment & Religious Affairs Minister

– Chairman of the Investment Board

Gorran will also have a share in other governmental offices in the Kurdistan Region to be determined later. Fifth: Sharing in enhancing and improving the KRG in a way that preserves freedom of speech and creates fairer elections far removed from the pressure of political punishment. Despite the agreement between the KDP and Gorran, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has not yet decided whether it will participate in the new government.