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Barzani trying convince people he is the only way to a Kurdish state: Othman
5/18/2015
Iraqi Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani
BAGHDAD,— The leading figure of the Kurdistan Alliance, former Kurdish deputy in Iraqi parliament, Dr. Mahmoud Othman, lashed out at Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani for what he called contradictory remarks by the prudent. “Kurdistan Region’s president thinks he is the only leader of the Kurds and does not confess to political disputes and tensions between Kurds,” Othman said, blaming Barzani for “contradictory remarks and extravagant ambitions.”
He added Barzani is making propaganda for the establishment of a Kurdish state to convince people that he is the only one who is capable of making the wishes of the Kurdish generations come true in the creation of a Kurdish state.
Othman added what increases doubts about the ambitions is that Kurds in the four countries of Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Syria see themselves superior to other Kurds and were seeking to hold a national Kurdish congress but differences emerged among them as each of the Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PUK and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party PKK believe it is their right to lead the congress.
He ultimately asked Kurdish leaders to decide on the presidency of Kurdistan region and the political system in the autonomous enclave in the north of Iraq.
Massoud Barzani will have served 10 years as president when his current term ends on August 19, 2015. Political discussions have been taken place for some time about whether or not to renew his mandate.
Meanwhile, many political parties believe that the President must be elected through a Parliamentary system.
Massoud Barzani has led Kurdistan region as president from 2005 for two executive terms and his last term was extended in 2013 by ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) for two more years on the condition that he can no longer run as president.
Barzani approves the extension of his 3rd mandate as president of Kurdistan late July 2013.
The parliament is now thinking of expanding his tenure for a second time in August 2015.
The current cabinet is composed of two governing parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iraq with 38 deputies and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan with 18 deputies, while the opposition, Gorran, has 24.
Former leading council member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP and Massoud Barzani’s cousin, Adham Barzani, stated that extending Massoud Barzani’s presidential term is against the laws and regulations of Kurdistan region. Adham Barzani critised other senior members of KDP for obeying whatever the leader says and not having their own opinion on any decision; added this will create a dictatorship.
Massoud Barzani and his relatives control a large number of commercial enterprises in Iraqi Kurdistan, with a gross value of several billion US dollars. The family is routinely accused of corruption and nepotism by Kurdish media as well as international observers.
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