Iraqi Kurds oppose the renewal of their President’s mandate

On the 20th August 2015, the Regional Parliament of Iraqi Kurdistan was obliged to suspend its extraordinary session due to the boycott of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the formation of the Barzani clan.

For the last several weeks, the United States, the United Kingdom and the United Nations have been pressuring the Parliament to renew President Massoud Barzani’s mandate without resorting to a new election. The ambassadors have constantly repeated that this period is not favourable for reforms, and that the Iraqi Kurds must demonstrate their unity if they want to benefit from the support of the « international community » against the Islamic Emirate.

Washington had sent Brett H. McGurk, Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran, and also the assistant to General John Allen in the fight against the Islamic Emirate. The United Kingdom was represented by ambassador Frank Baker.

According to the new constitution of 2005, the Regional President is not authorised to claim his own succession. In fact, Massoud Barzani has been in power since the occupation of his country by the International Coalition led by the United States in 2003. He was elected for the first time in 2005 (before the constitution, and therefore before the limitation of mandates), and then re-elected in 2009. However, in June 2013, the Parliament, in violation of the constitution, decided to extend his mandate for two years.

The Barzani clan was indissolubly linked to the Israeli Mossad during the Cold War, and continues to represent Israeli interests in the region.

From the 27th May to the 1st June 2014, the Regional Government of Kurdistan participated in the secret preparatory meetings for the invasion of Iraq by the Islamic Emirate in Amman (Jordan). It was represented by Azad Bervari and Masrour « Jomaa » Barzani, head of the Intelligence Services. When the operation began, the Regional Government profited from the international outcry caused by the massacres committed by Daesh to annex the petrol field of Kirkouk and expand its territory by 40%. During the massacre of the Yezidi Kurds by Daesh, in August 2014, the Regional Government did not intervene, while 1,300 Turkish Kurd combattants from the PKK and 500 Syrian Kurd combattants from the YPG managed to save more than 20,000 Yezidis in the Sinjar mountains.