SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Gorran movement on Saturday announced that the extension of the 5th parliamentary term is in the best interest of the Kurdistan Region.
Speaking about the movement’s conditions and the issue of extending the 5th term of the legislature, Gorran in a statement said in the nearby future it will hold its second national congress.
The extension of the 5th parliamentary, on one hand, it’s for preventing the emerging legal and constitutional gaps in the Kurdistan Region, while on the other hand, it’s for the sake of the people’s interest, Gorran said.
Furthermore, the decision is to execute several “crucial” projects including the execution of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) ninth cabinet agenda, and sending out the budget law to the legislative chamber, it added.
The Kurdistan Region parliament on Sunday has passed a bill to extend the 5th parliamentary term and postponed the general elections.
In protest of that stance from Gorran movement which voted for the bill, a lawmaker from the Gorran faction, Shayan Kaka Salih Askary announced her resignation.
“I have submitted my resignation to the presidency of the parliament and Gorran faction as well,” she said.
The parliament has passed the bill by a majority vote, extending the 5th term of the legislature, and also postponing the general elections for one year, till December 2023.
The chamber also justified why they have passed such a controversial bill, explaining that to prevent legal, and constitutional gaps and preserve national unity with further preparation for the next general elections.
The extension of the 5th parliamentary term came as the Region was supposed to hold elections on October, 1 this year.
In February, the President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani signed a decree setting the date for the region’s parliamentary election to October 1, 2022.
The Region held parliamentary elections in September 2018.
Parliamentary elections are held every four years in the Kurdistan Region. A minimum quota of 30% of seats in the 111-seat house is reserved for women and 11 seats for parties representing minorities.
