HEWLÊR-Erbil, Kurdistan region ‘Iraq’,— The Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP, led by Massoud Barzani plans to prosecute the leader of Change (Gorran) Movement Nawshirwan Mustafa..

Member of the KDP Shêrzad Qasim told the National Iraqi News Agency that “the Party prepared a complete file to prosecute Nawshirwan Mustafa in charges of influencing at the public security in the Kurdistan region and inciting violence and planning to target the KDP headquarters of some of the diplomatic corps in Erbil.”

He added that the file will be submitted to the judiciary soon including a video tape in which Nawshirwan Mustafa appears in a meeting with the leaders of Gorran which calls frankly to disturb the public security in the Kurdistan region.

According to Gorran, Nawshirwan Mustafa who is in Europe for medical treatment since last September will spend a number of months abroad for treatment on his back. Omer Sayd Ali has been appointed to fulfil the duties of general coordinator of Gorran until Mustafa returns, local media reported.

The crisis erupted after Massoud Barzani, whose term as Kurdistan President ended on August 20, 2015 but refused to step down and remains unofficially in office.

A 2013 law stipulated that Barzani’s term cannot be extended again, and the other parties have objected to his determination to stay put. But KDP leaders claim the president can be replaced only via elections.

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker stated that the law in the region does not allow extending the term of Massoud Barzani. Yusuf Mohammad Sadiq told al-Hura TV channel that the region has its own law on the presidency and it does not allow any person to run for more than two times.

Massoud Barzani has led Kurdistan region as president from 2005 for two executive terms and his last term was extended in 2013 by ruling KDP and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) for two more years on the condition that he can no longer run as president.

The five main Kurdish parties, the KDP, PUK, Gorran Movement, Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and Kurdistan Islamic Group (KIG) held the 9th rounds of negotiations at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Sulaimani on October 9, 2015, but failed, because KDP members insist that Massoud Barzani should remain president of the region.

Residents in the Kurdistan Region’s eastern cities and towns have been protesting against overdue salary payments and have called on political parties to solve a weeks-long crisis on the region’s presidency.

Thousands of people demonstrated in October 2015 against KRG and KDP in Sulaimani city and several other Kurdish towns, demanding payment of their salaries from KRG and that KDP leader Massoud Barzan to step down.

Several local KDP headquarter buildings were set on fire by the protesters.

Barzani has been accused by critics of amassing huge wealth for his family instead of serving the population. Barzani’s son is the Kurdistan region’s intelligence chief and his nephew Nechirvan Barzani is the prime minister.

The KDP blames Gorran for inciting demonstrators to attack KDP offices in Sulaimani and Halabja provinces in September 2015. Gorran denied the accusations.

Kurdistan PM Nechirvan Barzani has removed four members of his cabinet from the Change (Gorran) Movement on October 13, 2015 in an escalating political crisis that threatens to destabilize the relatively peaceful region. Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament’s Speaker was prevented from entering Erbil city on October 11, 2015.

The expelled ministers were replaced on October 28, 2015 with KDP politicians.

The Gorran Movement accused the KDP of a monopoly all government’s positions in Erbil, and it does not believe in the principles of true partnership and and peaceful transfer of power.

Source: eKurd