The Gorran Movement in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

1 From the publication series of KCCRC 28 Kurdistan conflict and Crisis Research Center

The Gorran Movement in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Hawre Hasan Hama

From the publication series of KCCRC 28 2 Kurdistan conflict and Crisis Research Center

www.kurdistanc.com [email protected] facebook.com/kurdistanccrc 053 - 318 2929 @KCCRC1

March 2020 3 The Gorran Movement in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Hawre Hasan Hama the elections. This research divides The Gorran Movement’s conduct and effectiveness into three primary stages; Abstract: (1) the opposition stage, which can be The Gorran Movement (‘Goran’) described as The Gorran Movement’s was founded in 2009 to address the golden period; (2) the government Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s demand participation stage after 2013, which for political and economic reform. can be described as The Gorran Corruption, lack of transparency in Movement’s period of weakness; and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s income (3) the post Nawshirwan Mustafa and expenditure, the lack of legitimate stage, which can be described as The and active institutions, the existence in Gorran Movement’s period of political political party interference in all sectors entrenchment. The central argument of the Kurdish region and the region of this research is that The Gorran wide power-sharing agreement between Movement fundamental problem has the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and been that instead of being able to be the Kurdistan Democratic Party has all a catalyst for reform, it became a part worked to create a feeling of discontent of the very issues that it had for many among the Kurdistan Region of years campaigned against. Iraq’s residents. In 2009, The Gorran Movement took advantage of this Introduction feeling of disenfranchisement in the The Gorran Movement Movement is a region to demand a complete change reformist liberal political party which in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s was founded in 2009 by Nawshirwan political structure that were built by Mustafa. Nawshirwan Mustafa the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and was previously the Deputy General Kurdistan Democratic Party. Using Secretary of the Patriotic Union of this message The Gorran Movement’s Kurdistan. After Nawshirwan Mustafa first participation in elections saw it became disillusioned with the prospect become the second biggest political of reforming the Patriotic Union of force in the Kurdistan Region of Kurdistan from within he decided to spit Iraq and the biggest political party from the party. Immediately following in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s its establishment in 2009, The Gorran traditional zone of influence by beating Movement took party in the Kurdistan the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan in Region of Iraq›s legislative elections.

4 In contrast to the predictions of political Barzani family. The Patriotic Union observers, The Gorran Movement of Kurdistan was less a family centred was able to win 22 per cent (25 out political party, in particular during of 111) of the seats in the Kurdistan the Jalal Talabani period. However, Parliament. In the same elections after his death, the Patriotic Union of the Kurdistan Alliance list, which Kurdistan also became a political party was a coalition between the Patriotic based around the Talabani family. The Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan power-sharing arrangement between Democratic Party was only able to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and secure 43 parliamentary sears. This Kurdistan Democratic Party has been election demonstrated that The Gorran synonymous with corruption, lack of Movement had become the second legitimate and effective institutions, major political power in the region and the politicisation of the majority of became the primary opposition to the the Kurdistan Region of Iraq sectors Patriotic Union of Kurdistan-Kurdistan (security, military, education, and Democratic Party government in the economy. The Gorran Movement was Kurdistan Parliament. In the 2013 formed as a reaction to this Patriotic elections, The Gorran Movement was Union of Kurdistan-Kurdistan able to maintain its position as the Democratic Party stranglehold over second largest parliamentary political the region. The new party’s objective force in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq was to instigate region-wide reform. and the largest in the Patriotic Union This research divides The Gorran of Kurdistan’s zone of influence by Movement’s conduct and effectiveness securing 24 parliamentary seats. In into three primary stages; (1) the the same elections, the Kurdistan opposition stage, which can be described Democratic Party was able to achieve as The Gorran Movement’s golden 38 seats while the Patriotic Union period; (2) the government participation of Kurdistan won 18. (1) While The stage after 2013, which can be defined Gorran Movement was founded as as The Gorran Movement’s period of a reaction to the Patriotic Union of weakness; and (3) the post Nawshirwan Kurdistan-Kurdistan Democratic Party Mustafa stage, which can be described governance, the Patriotic Union of as The Gorran Movement’s period of Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic political entrenchment. The research Party drew their strength, not from also discusses the reasons behind political policy but their two charismatic The Gorran Movement’s weakening leaders, Jalal Talabani (19752017-) political status in the Kurdistan Region and Massoud Barzani (1975 onwards). of Iraq’s political process. The central The Kurdistan Democratic Party argument of this research is that The is in no small extent considered a Gorran Movement primary problem political party based in rural family has been that instead of being able to be tribalism that is dominated by the a catalyst for reform, it became a part

5 of the very issues that have plagued Iraq’s political system. For example, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Islamic Movement of Kurdistan Kurdistan Democratic Party since engaged in violent confrontation 1992. with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic Party in Political Opposition in the 1993 and 1999. Therefore, because Kurdistan Region of Iraq the Islamic Movement of Kurdistan did not believe in the Kurdish In 1991, following the retreat of Iraqi political process and refrained from regime forces in Southern Kurdistan entering the government, it cannot be and the establishment of a safe haven considered a political opposition in for the Kurds on the part of the the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In 1994 United States, France and the United a civil-war between the Kurdistan Kingdom the Kurdish political forces Democratic Party and the Patriotic were able to fill the administrative Union of Kurdistan erupted and lasted vacuum left by the Iraqi government until 1998. During the period of the in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In civil war, there was still no political 1992 the Kurdistan Democratic Party opposition in the Kurdistan Region of and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Iraq. In 1998 the Kurdistan Democratic together with other political entities Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan formed a grand coalition government. came to a ceasefire and power-sharing (2) The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan agreement under United States and Kurdistan Democratic Party as two mediation. The deal split the Kurdistan of the most significant political forces Region of Iraq’s governance between were able to divide the majority of the the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and regional ministerial portfolios between Kurdistan Democratic Party essentially themselves. They allowed some minor creating a dual administration system portfolios to go to smaller party to keep until 2002. The Patriotic Union of them satisfied. (3) During this period no Kurdistan governed in the province of opposition force existed in the Kurdish Sulaymaniyah and the Garmian area, political system as all the political sides while the Kurdistan Democratic Party had a stake in the Kurdistan Region of governed in Erbil and Duhok provinces. Iraq government. However, the Islamic These geographies of these two areas Movement of Kurdistan rejected the became known as the Patriotic Union notion of participating in the Kurdish of Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic parliament as it was a Salafist Jihadi Party zones of influence. (4) Between Islamist movement and believed the 1998 - 2005 there continued to be political system in the Kurdistan no opposition political force in the Region of Iraq to be un Islamic. Instead, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. However, it believed in the use of force to reform in 2002 a group splintered from the and change the Kurdistan Region of Islamic Movement of Kurdistan and

6 formed a new Islamist group called divided the government between Ansar al-Islam and rejected the notion themselves in a 50:50 split. Their of taking part in the Kurdistan Region agreement paid no regard to the smaller of Iraq’s political process. This group parties operating in the Kurdistan was a Salafi Jihadist Islamist group Region of Iraq’s political system, such that had the aim of overthrowing the as the Islamic Union of Kurdistan, the secular government of the Kurdistan Islamic Movement of Kurdistan and Region of Iraq and bringing about a the Communist party of Kurdistan. (6) Sharia law. With this objective, the As a result, a number of political crises group began its armed conflict against emerged in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and such as the lack of active and effective Kurdistan Democratic Party. In March political institutions, the weakening of 2003 the United States began bombing democratic institutions (parliament), Ansar al-Islam as part of its wider war the emergence of widespread against terrorism. With the assistance corruption, lack of transparency in the of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s income Peshmerga, the United States was able and expenditure and political party to defeat the group. Hence, once again influence over the courts, education, during the period between 1992 and security and military. Compounding 2005, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq this was a reluctance by the Patriotic did not have a political opposition Union of Kurdistan and Kurdistan other than an armed extremist Islamist Democratic Party to institutionalise party that did not believe in political the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s military participation in the Kurdistan Region and security structures. (7) These of Iraq. Between 2005 and 2009 no problems resulted in the Kurdish civil political party in the Kurdistan Region war between the Kurdistan Democratic of Iraq played the role of political Party and the Patriotic Union of opposition as during this period all Kurdistan in 1994, lasting until 1998. the political parties in the region The fight was only halted in 1998 participated in the government. (5) when the United States intervened and brought both the Patriotic Union of The crisis of the Kurdistan Region Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic of Iraq’s political system before the Party to an agreement in Washington. formation of the Gorran Movement One of the relics of the civil war was Movement. the division of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq into two distinct administrative Just as was references in the earlier zones with separate political and sections, after the formation of the military infrastructures. The Kurdistan Kurdistan Regional Government in Democratic Party administration 1992 the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan governed in Duhok and Erbil provinces, and the Kurdistan Democratic Party while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan

7 governed in Sulaymaniyah province in Baghdad. The Patriotic Union of and the Garmian region. (8) Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic Following the collapse of the Iraqi Party also agreed to divide the senior Baathist Government of Saddam positions in the government between Hussain in 2003, the Kurdistan themselves on a two-year rotating basis, Regional Government, in particular, in that every two years they would the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the rotate the senior government positions Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, became between the two parties. What is more, militarily and financially stronger. (9) the strategic agreement worked to The collapse of the Kurdistan Region of settle the leadership dispute between Iraq’s primary enemy allowed for this the leader of the Patriotic Union of overnight change of fortunes for the Kurdistan, Jalal Talabani and the leader Kurds. (10). One of the most significant of the Kurdistan Democratic Party gains for the Kurds in this period was Massoud Barzani by agreeing to award that they were able to secure 17.5% the position of Iraqi President to Jalal of the annual Iraqi national budget. Talabani and the position of Kurdistan (11) This new arrangement instigated Region of Iraq president to Massoud an economic boost for the region›s Barzani. (14) This strategic agreement economy, which was monopolised by proves successful in bringing about the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and political stability to the Kurdistan Kurdistan Democratic Party. (12) The Region of Iraq and preventing a return newfound wealth allowed both parties to the Kurdish civil war. However, to recruit further numbers into their the deal also had negative side-effects respected military and security wings, in respect to the Kurdistan Region of swelling both of their military wings Iraq’s governance in that it allowed to more than twice its pre-2003 size. for rampant corruption and a lack (13) As they gained in strength, the of government oversight, a weak level of corruption in the Kurdistan Kurdistan Region of Iraq parliament. Region of Iraq also increased. In 2005 (15) Furthermore, the arrangement did a strategic agreement regarding the sufficiently address the need to unify the joint-governance of the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces into a single national Region of Iraq was signed between army and therefore remained loyal to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and their respective political parties. This Kurdistan Democratic Party. The overwhelming power of the political deal had two central principles; first, parties also allowed the political that both parties would take part in parties to interfere in all sectors of the parliamentary and provincial elections state, such as the economy, military, on a single list and second, that both education and others. Further to this, the parties would divide government posts Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s relationship and portfolios equally and that they with the Iraqi Federal Government were would support each other’s candidates not institutionalised; instead relations

8 were conducted separately by each until the political parties are not party. The arrangement also obstructed reformed. That is why I believe we the writing of a new constitution for should first reform the Patriotic Union the Kurdistan Region of Iraq as the of Kurdistan than in the government.” parties could not agree what political To implement this reform within the system the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and to should adopt, a parliamentary one or a renew the party Nawshirwan Mustafa presidential one. (16) The Iraqi President demanded the holding of a free and was awarded extensive powers, and successful congress that does not article two of the Kurdistan Regional allow people to be appointed based Government Presidential law of 2005 on connection. (19) This Nawshirwan stipulated that the President was to be Mustafa initiative became known elected by the people. Article three of within the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan the law set the Presidential term to four as the reform wing. This wing was years, and a sitting president can stand from 2006 headed by Nawshirwan for a second term. (17) Mustafa and took party in internal With this backdrop, in 2006 Nawshirwan Patriotic Union of Kurdistan elections. Mustafa Amin set up a reform wing However, the fact that Jalal Talabani, within the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan the leader of the Patriotic Union of with the objective reform in the Kurdistan, did not remain impartial in Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s political the internal conflicts within the Patriotic system. Nawshirwan Mustafa believed Union of Kurdistan, the reform wing that if he could instigate reform in the failed in its objectives. Nawshirwan Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, then that Mustafa discusses the motivations for would pass through to government. establishing the reform wing in the In his book, Change from where to following way; “I tried to use internal where Nawshirwan Mustafa discusses Patriotic Union of Kurdistan elections his reform project within the Patriotic to change the character of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and says; “In this Union of Kurdistan from a party of project, I do not discuss governmental personalities to a party of institutions so reform because what work of that elections would become the only government and the work of party mechanism to change the members are interlinked. The party agencies, of the parties politburo. However, my ministers and their deputies, general attempts failed.” (20) The central cause managers and their assistants are of Nawshirwan Mustafa’s failure was appointed on the basis of connections that the party leader was not impartial and sometimes on the basis of private in the internal conflicts of the party. gain. Hence reform in government Shorish Haji, the spokesperson of The is dependent on reform within the Gorran Movement, explains: that the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. It will be reason the reform wing failed was that impossible to reform the government Jalal Talabani interfered in the internal

9 rivalries in a manner that went against of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan the reform wing. (21) and Kurdistan Democratic Party. The Due to the failure of his project, Gorran Movement presented an all- and his subsequent disillusionment encompassing political manifesto that with the possibility of reform within worked to address the problems present the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, in all sectors of Iraqi Kurdistan’s Nawshirwan Mustafa resigned from society. Among these solution was the the party in 2007. He immediately proposal to to redraft the draft Kurdistan established Wusha Company in Region of Iraq constitution to change Sulaimani and based it in the Zargata Iraq Kurdistan’s political system from hill. His objective in this regard was a presidential system to a parliamentary to develop a media source that was one, reform in the Kurdistan Region free from political party interference. of Iraq’s military and security forces In his book Nawshirwan Mustafa to remove them from political party explains; one-sided Kurdish media is control, shrinking the role of political an imitation of the media of the Ba’ath parties in the Kurdistan Region of party that is why we are trying to Iraq and making the Kurdistan Region establish a free and independent media of Iraq more transparent in regards source. (22) This new media outlet to income and budget spending by evolved over the following two years nationalising the office for fiscal into the Gorran Movement Movement oversight and the transparency group in 2009. (23) As a result of the multiple and the parliamentary committee for internal crises in the Kurdistan Region transparency. The Gorran Movement of Iraq and the rejection of reform by also campaigned to institutionalise the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the relations between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Democratic Party, The Erbil, devolve power in the Kurdistan Gorran Movement was able to attract Region of Iraq, strengthens judicial the attention of the section of the power, reform in the Kurdistan public that had over the years become Region of Iraq’s education sector disenfranchised with the governance and enhancing the Kurdistan Region of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan of Iraq’s economic infrastructure. and Kurdistan Democratic Party. It its political program The Gorran The Gorran Movement was able to Movement has put forward numerous achieve this by presenting itself as an mechanisms to achieve the proposals alternative to the Patriotic Union of it had put forward in its manifesto. Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic (24) With this, The Gorran Movement Party through its campaign slogans was able to unify its campaign slogans and was able to present a number of with the demands of the Iraqi Kurdish solutions to the Kurdistan Region of people and subsequently ride the wave Iraq’s multiple crises that had come of discontent against the governance to fore as a result of the governance of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and

10 Kurdistan Democratic Party. (25) wings within the Patriotic Union of In contrast to pre-election forecasts, Kurdistan. Nawshirwan Mustafa’s The Gorran Movement has an popularity amongst the public immensely successful first election rooted from the fact that he had no in the 2009 Kurdistan Region of allegations of corruption against him, Iraq parliamentary elections to win was perceived as a truthful and clean 25 of 111 parliamentary seats. The individual. Moreover, historically Gorran Movement gains were mostly Nawshirwan Mustafa, when he was at the expense of the Patriotic Union Jalal Talabani’s deputy in the Patriotic of Kurdistan vote with The Gorran Union of Kurdistan regularly called Movement eating into three-quarters for internal party reform and was a of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s highly respected former Peshmerga previous parliamentary seats. (26) leader that had a significant role in the However, the defeat suffered by the planning, organisation, implementation Patriotic Union of Kurdistan was of Kurdish military operations against mostly muted given that it had taken the Saddam Hussein Iraqi regime part in the 2009 election on a joint list and internally against the Kurdistan with the Kurdistan Democratic Party. Democratic Party in the civil war period. Together the two parties were able The trust and respect that Nawshirwan to retain their hold on governance by Mustafa had earned over his military winning 43 of the 111 parliamentary and political career saw senior, and seats. junior members of the Patriotic Union The Gorran Movement’s success in of Kurdistan defect to The Gorran the 2009 election was as a result of Movement after its establishment two central factors. First, The Gorran and they were joined by numerous Movement was able to monopolise on independents and members of the a lack of representation of residents Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s Islamist that had become disenfranchised with parties. (28) Nawshirwan named the the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and party The Gorran Movement to make Kurdistan Democratic Party through the parties agenda clear and to resonate a new strong populist position against with the demands of Kurdish residents. the governance of the two parties. (27) Second, the person of Nawshirwan The political stages of the Gorran Mustafa. Nawshirwan Mustafa was Movement. one of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s leading charismatic leaders alongside First: The Gorran Movement’s Jalal Talabani and Massoud Barzani. golden age He was Jalal Talabani’s deputy within This period began immediately after its the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan election successes in the 2009 Kurdistan and was previously the secretary of Region of Iraq parliamentary elections. Komala, which was one of the leading Following the vote the movement

11 rejected any idea that it would take held 265 sittings, while the 200509- part in a coalition government with parliament held 239 sittings. (30) The the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and difference between the two periods of Kurdistan Democratic Party and instead parliaments not only restricted to these chose to remain in opposition. (29) In numbers but is also different interns of this period The Gorran Movement was the quality of the laws and decisions the only parliamentary opposition that that it passed. Abdulla Mala Nuri had a significant impact on the Patriotic believes “The laws that were passed Union of Kurdistan and Kurdistan before The Gorran Movement entered Democratic Party government. The parliament was passed in line with Gorran Movement’s influence during political party agreements between this period was due to; first, the fact the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and that during this period The Gorran Kurdistan Democratic Party, with Movement became an active opposition the opinion of residents being largely to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and ignored. The Gorran Movement Kurdistan Democratic Party by dealing was able to reverse this balance by with the government in respect to its presenting a more progressive voice political agenda. Abdulla Mala Nuri in parliament. The Gorran Movement explains: “The Gorran Movement pressed for progressive laws to be was able to, for the first time to form passed, it called for the reorganisation an active and effective parliamentary of the political system; it demanded just opposition, which has a direct impact laws and for them to serve the people on the behaviour and activeness of before they were allowed to pass. It Kurdistan Region of Iraq parliament, was in this period that the Kurdistan return status to parliament, for the Region of Iraq budget was for the parliament to have an impact on first time put under the parliamentary residents, and as an opposition force microscope and thoroughly discussed. was able to make people aware of their This discussion tied the people to rights.” Before The Gorran Movement, parliament and vice-versa because the Kurdistan Region of Iraq parliament every week we as parliamentarians only served one role, and that was would consult public consultations and rubber stamping government laws and listened to the public demands. Before ignored its other roles. After the entry of we entered parliament, there was a The Gorran Movement into parliament wide chasm between the people and became markedly more relevant to their representatives.” (31) the Kurdistan Region of Iraq politics. In terms of oversight the 2009- The 200913- Kurdistan Region of Iraq 13 parliamentary term, due to the parliament was able to pass 79 and 73 presence of The Gorran Movement as decisions. In comparison, the 2005- an opposition force, was able to play a 09 parliament passed 89 laws and 32 significant role in government oversight. decisions. Also, the 200913- parliament Compared to the term preceding it the

12 200913- parliament directly questioned tens of thousands of Kurdistan Region the government 378 more times (2009- of Iraq residents in Sulaymaniyah 436 :13 questions to government vs gathered on the streets demanding 200558 :09- questions). (32) This was change in the Kurdistan Region of significant not only due to the number Iraq’s political system and the rooting of questions but how they were asked. out of corruption and government For example, the Kurdistan Region of reform in the Kurdistan Region Iraq parliament was able to force Dr of Iraq. The Gorran Movement’s Barham Salih the then Prime Minister secondary tool of influence after its of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to parliamentarians was the message that attend a special parliamentary session was disseminated by its media wing for questioning. They were also able daily. During this period The Gorran to force numerous other government has a far left populist message against ministers to participate in the session the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and for examination, such as the Finance the Kurdistan Democratic Party, which Minister, the Peshmerga Minister, it disseminated through its central Interior Minister, the Minister for television station ‘KNN’. It used KNN Oil and Gas, and a number of service to portray both the Patriotic Union of ministries. These individual sessions Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic were unprecedented in the Kurdistan Party as evil parties that were also Region of Iraq politics. (33) responsible for the Kurdish civil war, Another of the significant impacts of corruption, wasting national wealth The Gorran Movement during this and resources, degrading the reputation period was the effect of the party on of the nation and the Peshmerga and public opinion. During this period the using both for political gain. The Gorran Movement’s political slogans Gorran movement also continued its had the most impact on public opinion. media attack on both parties as new It was for this reason that the party issues and crises set in, blaming the was able to easily influence the public Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the against the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Kurdistan Democratic Party. Using and the Kurdistan Democratic Party. these messages and tactics, the Gorran This was, in particular, the case within Movement was able to attract Kurdistan the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s poor, dispossessed and disenfranchised, zone of influence, in which The groups who have suffered the most Gorran Movement had become the from the governance of the two largest parliamentary force. The dominant parties to the movement, Gorran Movement’s influence over swelling its number of supporters. the Kurdistan Region of Iraq streets This message made The Gorran appear was evident in the 17th February to be more like a movement with the 2011 demonstrations. From the 17th sole objective of bringing down the February until the 21st April 2011 Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the

13 Kurdistan Democratic Parties duopoly Union of Kurdistan. They reiterated over the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s that they would seek participation governance and reforming the regions in the new Kurdistan Regional political system, rather than a political Government in the same respect. (34) party whose primary objective was to This announcement by the Kurdistan govern. Democratic Party dealt a significant blow to the strategic agreement that Second: The Gorran Movement’s had until then existed between both period of weakness the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party. For The Gorran Movement’s period of its part, the Gorran Movement had weakness began immediately after explained before the holding of the it decided to join the grand coalition poll that the time had come for it to government with the Patriotic Union capitalise on its previous achievements of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan by seeking to enter into government. Democratic Party following the 2013 (35) parliamentary elections. In the 2013 During this period the Gorran poll the Gorran Movement’s success, movement made several strategic especially over the Patriotic Union of errors that would impact the party and Kurdistan was evident. In the 2013 force it to lose support and votes in the parliamentary elections, the Patriotic 2018 parliamentary elections, which Union of Kurdistan competed on an would see the movement only secure independent list and was only able to 12 parliamentary seats. First, was the win 18 of 111 parliamentary seats. On error of choosing to enter into a grand the other hand, the Gorran Movement coalition government with the Patriotic won 24 parliamentary seats. The result Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan changed the balance of power in the Democratic Party. The Gorran Kurdistan Region of Iraq in favour of Movement’s reasoning for taking this the Kurdistan Democratic Party as the decision was that all political parties Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s zone of have the objective of entering into influence split between two political government. The official spokesperson parties. This new reality allowed for the Gorran Movement explained: the Kurdistan Democratic Party to “We, like any other political party, follow a policy of divide and conquer have the aim of achieving power over these two parties. Following and it is for this reason that we have the announcement of the result the entered into the new government. We Kurdistan Democratic Party announced have had a political program, which that they would from then on out deal we want to demonstrate to our voters with other parties in respect to the that we can implement this program seats that they have achieved and not in government.” (36) This statement any prior agreements with the Patriotic may be correct, but Gorran’s entry into

14 the Kurdistan Regional Government Region of Iraq’s political system as it was ill-timed for many reasons. had previously campaigned for as part First, the obstacles and problems that of its political program. Instead, the were prevalent in the Iraqi Kurdish Gorran Movement was perceived as political system and that Gorran wanting to replace the Patriotic Union of Movement had initially campaigned Kurdistan as the Kurdistan Democratic against were unchanged when they Party’s primary partner in the Kurdistan entered a coalition with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s government. As a Democratic Party and the Patriotic result, it appeared that the Gorran Union of Kurdistan. For example, Movement’s political strategy had even when the Gorran movement changed from a long term program of came into government Kurdistan’s reform to a short-term opportunist one military and security forces remained to take part in the Kurdistan Regional under the control of the Patriotic Government. Moreover, its entry into Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan the coalition government discredited Democratic Party, a matter that would the message that the Gorran Movement constrict the Gorran Movement’s had previously pushed against the ability within the government. Put Kurdistan Democratic Party and the another way, the mechanisms required Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. (39) for the transfer of power within the Second, during this period the Gorran KRI’s political system did not exist. Movement rushed into the coalition (37) This issue became evident when government without prior agreements problems arose between the Kurdistan on vital issues around the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Gorran Region of Iraq’s presidency and its Movement over the question of the law political system. Gorran’s failure in this governing Iraqi Kurdistan’s Presidency respect saw the issues return and impact and the shape of the region’s political the party later. Abdulla Mala Nuri, a system. The Kurdistan Democratic leading Gorran Movement member Party confronted the problem by using and former Member of parliament its security services to prevent the says, “The Gorran movement rushed its speaker of the Kurdistan parliament entry into the coalition government. It (a Gorran Movement politician) from should have resolved the question of the entering Erbil, the capital city of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s presidency Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which by and political system before its entry. consequence prevented the regional We supported a parliamentary system, parliament from meeting and voting while the Kurdistan Democratic Party on the issue. Second, by entering the supported a presidential system. The coalition government, the Gorran Gorran Movement delegation that met Movement demonstrated to the public with the Kurdistan Democratic Party that its motivation was not to achieve delegation in 2013 in respect to the a head to tails reform of the Kurdistan formation of the coalition government

15 was more concerned with ministerial was prevented from entering Erbil by portfolios than it was with resolving Kurdistan Democratic Party security key reform questions. This was one forces. After this event, the Gorran of the major errors of the Gorran movement’s government ministers Movement”(40). In 2015, the second were expelled from the government. term of the President of the Kurdistan (43) As a result, the Gorran Movement Regional Government, Massoud was no longer a governing party. Barzani came to an end. In reality, Third, preventing the Gorran his second term had already ended in Movement parliamentary speaker from 2013 but was extended for two years entering Erbil, disabling parliament with support from the Patriotic Union and expelling the Gorran Movement’s of Kurdistan on the condition that he ministers from the government on the would not be able to extend it further. part of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (41) The Gorran Movement did not can be seen as a significant Kurdistan have a long-term plan when it entered Democratic Party victory over the into government. As a result, in 2015 the Gorran Movement. The Kurdistan problem of the Iraqi Kurdish president Democratic Party was not prepared to resurfaced, as it required parliament, of compromise in any way to the Gorran which a Gorran Member of Parliament Movement on the question of the was its speaker, to find a solution to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s presidency problem. Even though the sensitivity of or political system. Shorish Haji the issue was recognised by the United and Mohammed Ali, the head of the Nations and the United States, with Gorran Movement’s Research Room both requesting a delay in the Kurdistan explain “the Kurdistan Democratic Region of Iraq’s parliamentary session Party was unwilling to compromise in regarding the issue, parliament any way to the demands of the Gorran continued regardless. The session was Movement. It was not prepared to boycotted by the Kurdistan Democratic make any movement to resolve the Party and a number of Islamist Union situation. It was for this reason that the of Kurdistan members of parliament Gorran Movement had no option but forcing the session to be discontinued to push through with the parliamentary as the minimum threshold of sitting session.” (44) The central reasons for members was not met and the vote the Gorran Movement’s failure in this on the law governing the Kurdistan respect is not only down to internal Regional Government’s presidency and party mismanagement but also down political system to be delayed. (42) The to external factors. In this stage, the issue remained unresolved between Kurdistan Democratic Party was a the political parties and between significant player in the international parliamentarians. On 12th October coalition against the Islamic State. 2015, the Speaker of the Kurdistan Following the Yezidi massacres on Regional Government Parliament the 3rd August 2014, on 8th August

16 2014, the United States decided to period. The United States Consul Brett intervene militarily in Iraq through McGurk asked the different political the use of airpower. The support and sides in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to assistance of the United States towards delay the parliamentary sitting around the Kurdistan Democratic Party in the issue. This international support respect to confronting the Islamic for the Kurdistan Democratic Party State was a significant factor that and Massoud Barzani to remain in strengthened the party and enabled it to post further entrenched the Kurdistan discount internal political competition. Democratic Party in its position and (45) In the question of reforming the made it unwilling to compromise in any law governing the Kurdistan Region way to the Gorran Movement. From of Iraq’s presidency, the Kurdistan these events, Massoud Barzani took Democratic Party’s international away the message that his party was support was evident. The international a significant part of the international community, in particular, the United coalition against the Islamic State and States and the United Nations, requested as a result, it could temporarily close that the leading five political sides in the Kurdistan parliament. (47) Iraqi Kurdistan delay the parliamentary It was in this manner that United sitting regarding the issue. (46) support for the Kurdistan Democratic Sardar Aziz, an adviser to the Kurdistan Party and Barzani prevented the Parliament, explains, “during this peaceful exchange of power in the stage, the intentional community, in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. For this particular, the United States, in contrast reason that after the completion of to the views of the Gorran Movement, Massoud Barzani’s presidential term did not deem the peaceful transfer he refused to step down from his post. of power in the Kurdistan Region of (48) For its part, the United States Iraq as necessary. The international and its allied continued to work with community only viewed the war against Barzani as the Kurdish leader even the Islamic State as important. It may after his presidential term had expired be the case that the United States and and he had refused to step down as the international community believed Kurdish law required. For example, the removal of Massoud Barzani from after Massoud Barzani’s presidential the Iraqi Kurdish presidency and term had legally expired an interview commander in chief of the Peshmerga was given by Sheikh Jaafar Sheikh would have harmed the war against Mustafa on 19th August 2015 in which the Islamic State. It was for this reason he stated, “Massoud Barzani continues that the international community, in to be Commander-in-chief of the armed particular, the United States was one- forces, no operation against the Islamic sided in their thinking regarding the State can go ahead in the Kurdistan issue of the Iraqi Kurdish presidency Region without his prior consent. If his and its political system during this approval isn’t given, then the coalition

17 forces will not fire a single shot in Movement parliamentary speaker support of an operation. To date, the was prevented from entering Erbil coalition forces continue to recognise and the movement’s ministers were Massoud Barzani as the President of expelled from the Kurdistan Regional the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. (49) The Government, the Gorran Movement United States’ continued treatment was also incapable of deciding to of Massoud Barzani as president of withdraw from the Kurdistan Regional the Kurdistan Region of Iraq beyond Government. Shorish Haji believes the expiration of his presidential term that “the reason the Gorran vote- motivated Massoud Barzani to use his share drastically reduced between forces to prevent the Kurdistan Region 2013 to 2018 was that the Movement of Iraq’s parliamentary speaker from was neither practically in government entering Erbil on the 12th October 2015 nor was it a strong opposition. While and to block the parliamentary sitting. our ministers were expelled from the It also aided the Kurdistan Democratic government, none of them officially Party to expels the Gorran Movement’s resigned from their posts, and while the ministers from the Kurdistan Region of parliamentary speaker was prevented Iraq’s government. from entering Erbil, he too failed to Hence, the war against the Islamic resign from his position. We could not State and support from the United make a decisive decision on the matter States for the Kurdistan Democratic of our continued participation in the Party allowed for the strengthening of Kurdistan Regional Government.” (50) the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the There are two possible reasons for the weakening of the Gorran Movement. Gorran Movement’s indecisiveness in Put another way; the Kurdistan this regard. First, the Gorran movement Democratic Party took advantage of remained of the expectation that it would the war against the Islamic state and be allowed to return to government. United States support to strengthen Shorish Haji explains “we wanted to itself at the expense of the Gorran keep the door open for the Kurdistan Movement. These set of circumstances Democratic Party and the Patriotic were seen as the failure of the Gorran Union of Kurdistan to go back on their Movement against the Kurdistan decision and for a new agreement to Democratic Party. It sparked a shift be reached.” (51) Second, the Gorran in public opinion against the Gorran Movement believed that the Kurdistan Movement, in that the movement Democratic Party wanted for them was incapable of confronting the to no longer remain in government. Kurdistan Democratic Party by using The Gorran Movement, as a result, the institution of parliament to reform didn’t want to satisfy the Kurdistan the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s political Democratic Party’s desire. The last system. reason, according to Shorish Haji was Fourth, even after the Gorran due to the war against the Islamic State.

18 He explains, “we also felt a burden of this period. Some people comically responsibility to our country as a result argued that Gorran was not only of the threat posed by the Islamic State. incapable of delivering salaries to We didn’t want to become a factor homemakers, as they had promised in for the weakening of the Kurdistan their manifesto, but they also cut the Region of Iraq.” (52) Nevertheless, if wages of the working men and women. Gorran had formally withdrawn from Fifth, following the Gorran Movement’s parliament, it would have been a highly expulsion from the Kurdistan Regional rational decision for two reasons. First, Government the Gorran Movement, on if the Gorran Movement did re-enter 17th May 2016, signed an agreement the government, then it would have with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. done so in a weak position. It could The deal comprised of 25 articles. On not address any sensitive issue that the the party level, the Gorran Movement Kurdistan Democratic Party deemed had several motivations for signing the a red line as the Movement would agreement with the Patriotic Union of have become subject to the same Kurdistan. First, the feeling amongst expulsions that it had become subject the Gorran Movement that they were to previously. Second, in this stage the marginalised and distanced from Kurdistan Regional of Iraq was in the the Kurdish political process. Some grip of a fiscal crisis due to the war believed that the Gorran Movement against the Islamic State, the drop in had no future in the Kurdish the oil price and the cutting of its share political process, especially after its of the Iraqi budget by the Iraqi federal parliamentary speaker was prevented government. The Kurdistan Region’s from entering Erbil and its ministers economy is 95% dependent on the Iraqi were expelled from government. oil economy. From 2014 the Kurdistan In signing the agreement, the Gorran Region of Iraq was feted with a deep Movement was searching for an avenue fiscal crisis that saw the Kurdistan to escape from its weakened position. Regional Government fail to pay Second, leading figured within government salaries. In 2016 and 2017 the Gorran Movement discovered the Kurdistan Regional Government that elections and the winning of became so crippled that it could parliamentary seats have no reflection only spend about half of the required on the strength of a political party in government salaries and this was just the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s political for nine months of the year. In such system. Instead, the Gorran movement an environment the Gorran Movement concluded that the only determinant of could not affect the Kurdistan Regions political power in the Kurdistan region political process. What is more, during was force. Third, the Gorran Movement this period there was a tone of satire wanted, with this new agreement with amongst the public towards the Gorran the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, to Movements political message during regain the confidence of its support

19 base and voters, especially at a time result of its infighting between different when criticism of the Movement was wings of its party. (53) According to on the rise in respect to its inability theorists in political party polarisation, to confront the Kurdistan Democratic a party that is internally fractured and Party’s “disrespect”. Hence, the polarised cannot enter an agreement Gorran Movement wanted to repair or put another way it will not have much of the damage it had incurred as the ability to implement the deal. a result of the actions of the Kurdistan (54) Similarly, the Patriotic Union Democratic party against it by entering of Kurdistan could not enforce its into an agreement with the Patriotic agreement with the Gorran Movement Union of Kurdistan. Fourth, by entering as a result of the existence of different into a deal with the Patriotic Union wings within the party. Therefore, the of Kurdistan, the Gorran Movement Gorran Movement’s decision to enter believed that the balance of power in into a political agreement with the the Kurdistan Region of Iraq would be Patriotic Union of Kurdistan was in with them and the Patriotic Union of itself an error as the Patriotic Union Kurdistan. This belief was grounded of Kurdistan didn’t have the ability in the idea that the two political parties to abide by the deal as a result of the together would command a majority existence of its multiple wings, some of seats in the Kurdish parliament. of which where against the agreement The Gorran Movement also believed in the first place. The Agreement that their political dominance could remained but was never implemented. be supported by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s armed wing, which Second, the Gorran Movement’s entry was similar to that of the Kurdistan into an agreement with the Patriotic Democratic Party. Hence, the Gorran Union of Kurdistan weakened the Movement believed that by siding and movements political message against forming an agreement with the Patriotic the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Union of Kurdistan they could block such messages in future from the the Kurdistan Democratic Union’s party would likely have little impact, attempts to dominate Kurdish politics. especially coming from the Gorran However, the Gorran Movement’s Movement. The agreement shifted agreement with the Patriotic Union of public opinion of the Gorran movement Kurdistan proved to be a mistake for to one that saw it as the same as the two reasons. First, during the period Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and that of the agreement, the Patriotic Union its political campaigning during its of Kurdistan was going through an period of opposition was only to get internal crisis and had no central into power. decision-making body. Instead, the Currently, three years after the agreement Patriotic Union of Kurdistan had was signed, the Gorran Movement has multiple decision-making bodies as a still been unable to withdraw from the

20 deal as the agreement was supported caused more significant issues for the by a non-declared monthly payment movement after the death of its founder of 250,000 dollars to the Gorran and previous head Nawshirwan Movement by the Patriotic Union Mustafa Amin in 2017. Following his of Kurdistan, of which the Gorran death, the sons of Nawshirwan Mustafa Movement depends. Shorish Haji has supported a weak candidate to replace confirmed that the Gorran Movement him. They supported Omer Said Ali does indeed receive such a payment for one reason so that they could force from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan; everything they had onto the head of however, he argued that the payment the Movement and consequently the was only temporary. The leaking of leader of the movement would take this information to the public before orders from them. Hence, one of the the 2018 Iraqi parliamentary elections central criticisms that faces Omer harmed the Gorran Movement. Said Ali after his appointment as head The final weakness of the Gorran is that he is a weak leader and, as a Movement was to not hold internal result, influential people (For example, election for the movement’s head and its Nawshirwan Mustafa’s sons) in the politburo. According to the movement’s Gorran Movement, who do not hold internal rules, internal elections must any formal positions within the party be held for these positions every two can direct the movement’s policies. years. As a result, in 2015 the term of the current head and members of its The Gorran Movement after politburo ended. However, the Gorran Nawshirwan Mustafa Movement failed to implement new elections for these positions and, as a On 19 May 2017 Nawshirwan Mustafa result, demonstrated the parties policy Amin, the founder and elected head of contradictions, in that it demanded one the Gorran Movement died at the age of thing from the Kurdistan Region of 72. The death of Nawshirwan Mustafa Iraq’s political process and did another weakened the Gorran Movement for a internally. For instance, while on number of reasons. First, the Gorran then hand the Gorran Movement was Movement, like all Kurdish political against granting two-year extension parties was not an organised party. Put to the Kurdish President’s term in another way; the Gorran Movement 2013 and 2015, the movement itself relied heavily on the charisma of its was not ready to hold fresh internal founder Nawshirwan Mustafa rather elections. Therefore, the Gorran’s than the democratic principles that policy contradictions in this regard should have underpinned the movement. also became an obstacle to the party An observation into the history of the becoming an effective establishment Kurdistan liberation movement in all party. The Gorran Movement’s four parts of Kurdistan it becomes failure to hold fresh internal elections evident that whenever a leader died the

21 parties which those leaders lead also example is the illness and subsequent cease to exist, or indeed are weakened. death of Jalal Talabani, the founder It may be that the source of this truth is and leader of the Patriotic Union of that these leaders often play a central Kurdistan. Since 2012, when he became role in the foundation, development and immobilised as a result of a stroke, his direction of their parties or movements, party became internally fractured and and without their continued guidance became unable to pass decisions due to and vision the party or movement infighting amongst its leading figures. loses its path. Here, it is necessary to The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s observe some examples; first, the life problems became so severe that in of the Kurdish liberation movement 2016 a wing of the party, under the in Iranian Kurdistan demonstrated leadership of both Kosrat Rasoul and that once its leader has died or been Dr Barham Salih, semi-fractured from assassinated their movement has also the party and by calling itself ‘The perished with them, or if it didn’t Decision-making Body of the Patriotic cease to exist it certainly stalled the Union of Kurdistan’. Moreover, movement for a lengthy period. When when Jalal Talabani died in 2017, the Simko Shikak, who led a Kurdish Patriotic Union of Kurdistan saw the resistance movement against the Iranian foundation of new groups and wings government, died his movement also within the party, resulting in the loss ended with his death. Furthermore, of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s following the execution of Qazi central decision-making body. Another Mohammed by the Iranian government example is the Kurdistan Workers in 1946 the Mahabat republic, which Party in Turkey (‘PKK’) under the he founded, also collapsed. Also, the leadership of Abdullah Ocalan. When assassination of Abdulrahman Qamislo Abdullah Ocalan was captured and by the Iranian government shocked his arrested by Turkey in 1999, the party party the Kurdistan Democratic Party entered a significant state of shock to of Iran to the extent that its role and the extent that it the party announced effectiveness markedly decreased. a unilateral ceasefire of hostilities with Moreover, an observation into the life the Turkish-state, which lasted for an of political parties and organisations in unprecedented five years. These were Iraqi Kurdistan demonstrates a similar a number of examples to demonstrate pattern to that of Iranian Kurdistan. the significant influence of Kurdish The leaders in this Kurdish region leaders over their political parties in have also played central roles in their Kurdish politics. In the same manner, political parties activities and their the death of Nawshirwan Mustafa had internal structures. For example, the a number of significant effects on the death of Mala Mustafa Barzani in 1979 Gorran Movement. These were; first, had a profound impact on his revolution the death of Nawshirwan Mustafa against the Iraqi government. Another created political wings within the

22 Gorran Movement. After his death, amongst them Qadir Haji Ali, Osmani significant disagreements came to the Haji and Osman Ali and a number of fore within the movement. The son’s members of its elected politburo have of Nawshirwan Mustafa, in the same left the movement. While Nawshirwan manner as in the Patriotic Union of Mustafa’s have no formal political Kurdistan following the death of Jalal positions within the movement, they Talabani, tried to control the party control the political decision-making through the party finances. According within the party. Abdulla Mala Nuri to a report by Awena newspaper, a revealed in a speech that the leader well known Kurdish newspaper, on of the Movement and its politburo 25 July 2017, the shares in Wusha members are weak and are incapable Company that were previously held by of making decisions. He also explained Nawshirwan Mustafa, which amounted that a number of individuals who have to 300,000,000 shares were given to no official positions within the party his two sons Nma and Chia. According control the movements choices. (56) to the report in 2016, before his death, Therefore, while the Gorran Movement Nawshirwan Mustafa requested that was founded to counter the family based his shares in Wusha company which politics of the Kurdistan Democratic were in a cement factory be given to his Party and the Patriotic Union of son Chia. Two months after his death Kurdistan, in the end, it has become Nawshirwan Mustafa’s sons inherited a family-centric political movement. their father›s property and wealth. This impacted public opinion in a way Today Nma and Chia are legally the that it demonstrated that Gorran was owners of the Zargata Hill, the Fiscal no different from the two dominant oversight building, 25% of the profits political parties. Moreover, while the of Metro Supermarket, 15% shares Gorran Movement sells itself as an in Gasin Cement factory and KNN opposition force, it works to prevent satellite tv station. They also own and silence internal criticism. For numerous buildings on the Zargata example, Abdulla Mala Nuri, who hill, which have an estimated value of was a leading figure in the Movement, tens of millions of dollars. In contrast, found himself locked out of his room the Gorran Movement does not own after the death of Nawshirwan Mustafa. any property or any source of wealth. What is more, Sarkawti Kuba, the (55) It is important to note, the sons of previous head of Sulaimania security Nawshirwan Mustafa have no political and another leading figure of Gorran, is position within the Gorran Movement. accused of attacking a journalist within Since the death of Nawshirwan Mustafa, Gorran’s headquarters for criticising the Gorran Movement has been faced the movement. with much internal criticism, and some Second, the death of Nawshirwan significant members have left the party. Mustafa caused a crisis of decision- A number of its significant leaders, making in the Movement. One of the

23 most significant decisions after the Kurdistan Regional Government’s death of Nawshirwan Mustafa, which position militarily and politically was the decision to hold the Kurdish and strengthened that of the Iraqi independence referendum was decided federal government. Here, the Gorran on unilaterally by the Kurdistan Movement demonstrated its inability to Democratic Party. On 6 June 2017, take a clear decision on this significant the Kurdistan Democratic Party along issue in Kurdish politics. with the other dominant political This stage of the Gorran Movement, forces within the Kurdistan Region of which began after the 2013 Kurdistan Iraq decided that on the 25 September Region of Iraq parliamentary elections, 2017 the Kurdistan Regional when the Gorran Movement entered the Government would hold a region- Kurdistan Regional government with wide independence referendum. The the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Gorran Movement initially believed Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and ended that such a decision should be taken with the death of Nawshirwan Mustafa, by the Kurdish parliament and not by the former head of the movement, can the Kurdish president, whose term be described as Gorran’s stage of weak had expired. However, the Gorran conduct. The description is sufficient Movement lacked a clear position on because during this period the Gorran the issue, especially during the run- Movement did not and could not up to the vote. In an announcement, implement their programs while in the Gorran Movement explained that the Kurdish government. During this they will not advise people to vote period the Gorran Movement attempted in a certain way and that they should to modify the law governing the be free to vote with their conscience. Kurdish Presidency. Gorran’s decision On the day of the vote, the head of in this regard was a rational decision the Gorran Movement Omer Said Ali for the Movement as it demonstrated to announced, “I voted for independence the public that the Movement was not in the referendum”. This, at a time, merely a supplement to the Kurdistan that the whole referendum was a Democratic Party in the government but Kurdistan Democratic Party program an independent political force. It also to strengthen the Kurdistan Democratic showed that the Gorran movement was Party in the Kurdish political process. not ready to extend Massoud Barzani’s presidential term even though they What is more, the referendum was a were in a coalition government with political gamble filled with risk, that the Kurdistan Democratic Party. resulted in the Kurdistan Regional Nevertheless, Gorran failed in its Government losing control of the Iraqi attempt to reform the law because it disputed territories (51% of Kurdish was unable to understand that other territory), which it had controlled since parties in the Kurdistan Region’s 2014. The referendum weakened the political system were willing to extend

24 the presidential term for Massoud following the 2013 Kurdistan Region Barzani. For example, the Patriotic of Iraq parliamentary elections. Once Union of Kurdistan and the Islamic the Gorran Movement entered into Union of Kurdistan were two partied government, its support base decreased that stood with the Gorran Movement significantly. There were a number in demanding reform to the Presidential of reasons for this loss of support Law. However, the Gorran Movement including the political and geopolitical shouldn’t have put as much trust as it conditions during the period worked did in these other parties as both parties against the Gorran Movement, for hosted internal divisions over the example during this period Gorran was issue. One wing of the Patriotic Union undergoing a financial crisis, due to of Kurdistan enjoyed close relations the oil price crash and budget cuts by to the Kurdistan Democratic Party as the Iraqi Federal Government, and a was the case with a wing of the Islamic war with the Islamic State. The death Union of Kurdistan. of Nawshirwan Mustafa also worked In general, following the death of its to weaken the Gorran Movement former leader Nawshirwan Mustafa, significantly because the movement, as the Gorran Movement faced the same with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan problems and crises that Kurdish and the Kurdistan Democratic Party political parties in the Kurdish found its strength in the character of political systems have all historically its leader and not its internal political encountered. Some of these issues institutions. The death of Nawshirwan were; a lack of fiscal transparency Mustafa, caused the eruption of within the political party, the seizure internal disagreements, fractures of the political party on the part of and competition within the Gorran the family of the deceased leader, the movement, especially on the part monopolisation of public property and of the sons of Nawshirwan Mustafa finances, internal rifts and the formation who have since attempted to control of political party factionalism, the Movement through controlling corruption and the complete disregard access to the parties finances, property for internal party rules. and media and those who wanted the party to become a progressive Conclusion institutionalised movement. Hence, the death of Nawshirwan Mustafa caused The Gorran Movement did not have a disagreements within the party that longterm political program of reform restricted the movement’s decision- for the governance Kurdistan Regional making ability. This caused the Gorran of Iraq. The narrow benefits of some Movement to be confronted with a leading officials within the movement number of issues that contradicted forced the Gorran Movement to their party principles. Ultimately, these enter into a coalition government factors all worked to weaken the party with the Kurdistan Democratic party 25 by reducing its support base and this 7) Hassan, Kawa. Kurdistan›s Politicized was reflected in the 2018 election, Society Confronts a Sultanistic System. which saw the parties support base fall, Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for by half. International Peace, 2015. 8) Mario Fumerton and Wladimir van References: Wilgenburg, Kurdistan’s political armies: the challenge of unifying the Peshmerga 1) Irwani, Muslih. Clientelism and Forces (Beirut: Carnegie Middle East Center, Implementing Social Security Programmes 16 December 2015), http://carnegie-mec. in Post-conflict Iraqi Kurdistan Region. org/201516/12//kurdistan-spolitical- armies- Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015. challenge-of-unifying-peshmerga-forces/ 2) RodiHevian. ‘The Main Kurdish in5p Political Parties in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and 9) Natali, Denise. ‘The Kurdish Quasi- Turkey: A Research Guide’, Middle State: Leveraging Political Limbo.’ The East Review of International Affairs Washington Quarterly 38, no. 2 (2015): 145- (MERIA), Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013), 164. http://www.rubincenter.org/wp-content/ 10) Mario Fumerton and Wladimir van uploads/201308//Hevian-YA-SG-YA-au2- Wilgenburg, Kurdistan’s political armies: PDF.pdf the challenge of unifying the Peshmerga 3) Rashid Emara and Yousef Forces (Beirut: Carnegie Middle East Center, Mohammed. ‘Political oppositions in the Iraqi 16 December 2015), http://carnegie-mec. Kurdistan: Developments and future’, Doha org/201516/12//kurdistan-spolitical- armies- Institute,2012, https://www.dohainstitute. challenge-of-unifying-peshmerga-forces/ org/ar/lists/ACRPS-PDFDocumentLibrary/ in5p document_0B41E5D5.pdf 11) HawreHasanHama.’The 4) Hama, HawreHasan, and Othman consequences of the fragmented military Ali. «De-politicization of the partisan forces in Iraqi Kurdistan, British Journal of in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.» National Middle Eastern Studies’, 2019, DOI: Identities (2019): 121- 10.108013530194.2019.1582321/ 5) Rashid Emara and Yousef 12) Semin, Ali. ‘KDP-PUK Relations: Mohammed. ‘Political oppositions in the Iraqi Regional Developments and Changes.’ IRST Kurdistan: Developments and future’, Doha Anatolia Daily (2012). Institute,2012, https://www.dohainstitute. 13) Mario Fumerton and Wladimir van org/ar/lists/ACRPS-PDFDocumentLibrary/ Wilgenburg, Kurdistan’s political armies: document_0B41E5D5.pdf the challenge of unifying the Peshmerga 6) Rashid Emara and Yousef Forces (Beirut: Carnegie Middle East Center, Mohammed. ‘Political oppositions in the Iraqi 16 December 2015), http://carnegie-mec. Kurdistan: Developments and future’, Doha org/201516/12//kurdistan-spolitical- armies- Institute,2012, https://www.dohainstitute. challenge-of-unifying-peshmerga-forces/ org/ar/lists/ACRPS-PDFDocumentLibrary/ in5p. document_0B41E5D5.pdf 14) ‘Kurdistan Region’s Presidential

26 law of 2005’, Kurdistan-parliament, Immorality of the Gorran Movement’, NRT, 2005. http://perleman.org/Default. 2018. http://www.nrttv.com/birura-details.as aspx?page=byyear&c=LDD- px?authorid=106&Articleid=195&fbclid=I Yasa&id=2005, Farhad Hassan wAR1v2F9y90N6Q4Iq07sL26vRdYcku2b Abdullah.’THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN MY3EHflYt6-AgJMEnSz2DYSMAcLw IRAQI KURDISTAN: PARTY RIVALRIES 23) RodiHevian. ‘The Main Kurdish AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES’, Asian Political Parties in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Affairs, (2018). DOI:10.108003068374.201/ Turkey: A Research Guide’, Middle 8.1521120 East Review of International Affairs 15) Hama, H.H., 2019. Factionalism (MERIA), Vol. 17, No. 2 (Summer 2013), Within the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. http://www.rubincenter.org/wp-content/ Journal of Asian and African Studies, uploads/201308//Hevian-YA-SG-YA-au2- p.0021909619854111 PDF.pdf 16) Mustafa, N. (2009). Gorran from 24) HawreHasan Hama where to where? Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, &SarkawtShamsulddin. ‘Farewell of a IQ: Zargata Publishing House. Giant’, the Kurdish Policy Fundation, May 21, 17) Mustafa, N. (2009). We and 2017. https://kurdishpolicy.org/201721/05// Others: What Are Our Differences About? farewell-of-a-giant/ شــیالن احمــد. ڕهوشــى ئۆپۆزســیۆن لــه ههرێمــى (Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, IQ: Zargata 25 كوردســتان: بزووتنــهوهى گــۆڕان وهك نموونــه، گۆڤــارى .Publishing House دراســاته سیاســی و ئهمنییــهكان، 2019، لــهم بهســتهرهى HawreHasan Hama (18 /https://www.centerfs.org :خــوارهوهدا بهردهســته SarkawtShamsulddin. ‘Farewell of a& Giant’, the Kurdish Policy Fundation, May 21, files/20194-/06/Vol.1-No.2k-101130-.pdf 2017. https://kurdishpolicy.org/201721/05// 26) Rashid Emara and farewell-of-a-giant/ AyubMuhamad.‘The role of the Kurdistan 19) Mustafa, N. (2009). We and Parliament-Iraq: The Second and the Third Others: What Are Our Differences About? Term’, Journal of Legal and Political Studies, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, IQ: Zargata Vol. 6.No. 1. (2018), 302342-. https:// Publishing House. drive.google.com/file/d/1iSg_p5B6wY_ 20) HawreHasan Hama.‘Political l776FoyXaLiVo8QHziPI0/view Immorality of the Gorran Movement’, NRT, 27) EKurd Daily, ed. ‘Gorran Forgets 2018. http://www.nrttv.com/birura-details.as the 4th Anniversary of Feb 17 Uprising px?authorid=106&Articleid=195&fbclid=I in Iraqi Kurdistan’, EKurd Daily, 2015, wAR1v2F9y90N6Q4Iq07sL26vRdYcku2b https://ekurd.net/gorran-forgets-the-4th- MY3EHflYt6-AgJMEnSz2DYSMAcLw anniversary-of-feb-17-uprising-in-iraqi- 21) Political Program of Gorran Movement, kurdistan-201518-02-, for further information KNN, available at: https://gorran.net/Details_ on this issue look at, Zanko Ahmad, ‘A hawal.aspx?jimare=90&fbclid=IwAR1v_ year of demonstration and political debate’, znHjL1rCISB_8ra_9FNOzSKnD_- Niqash, 2011, http://www.niqash. WLFhz22bIRX5q08TJ92t_UpWsUo 28) Rudaw,eds. ‘KDP and PUK are 22) HawreHasan Hama.‘Political drafting a 4-year agreement’,Rudaw,

27 2019. http://www.rudaw.net/english/ Goran ministers from KRG cabinet’, kurdistan/200120193 Rudaw, 2015. http://www.rudaw.net/english/ 29) Hawre Hasan Hama.’The kurdistan/131020151 consequences of the fragmented military 36) Rudaw, eds. Nechirvan Barzani in Iraqi Kurdistan, British Journal of frontrunner for president as parliament Middle Eastern Studies’, 2019, DOI: prepares for vote, 2019, http://www.rudaw. 10.108013530194.2019.1582321/ net/english/kurdistan/13052019 30) Hawre Hasan Hama.’The 37) Christine van den Toorn. (2014). consequences of the fragmented military How the U.S.-favored Kurds Abandoned the in Iraqi Kurdistan, British Journal of Yazidis when ISIS Attacked’, DAILY BEAST. Middle Eastern Studies’, 2019, DOI: Retrieved from http://www.thedailybeast. 10.108013530194.2019.1582321/ com/how-the-us-favored-kurds-abandoned- 31) Hama, HawreHasan, and Othman the-yazidis-when-isis-attacked Ali. «De-politicization of the partisan forces 38) ShexJafarShex Mustafa. Interview in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.» National WithShexJafar, KNN, 2017. https://www. Identities (2019): 121- youtube.com/watch?v=cu6yNDV1TwY 32) Rudaw, eds. ‘PM Barzani sacks 39) Shex Jafar Shex Mustafa. Interview Goran ministers from KRG cabinet’, With Shex Jafar, KNN, 2017. https://www. Rudaw, 2015. http://www.rudaw.net/english/ youtube.com/watch?v=cu6yNDV1TwY kurdistan/131020151 Farhad Hassan Abdulla. 40) Hawre Hasan Hama. “Systemic ‘PUK – Gorran Relations in Post Kurdish Crisis in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq”, Referendum: A New Phase of Conflict in Foreign Policy Research Institute, January Green Zone’, Masher Politics & Culture 8, 2018, available at: https://www.fpri.org/ Journal, Vol. 3, No. 06, 2018. http://mpc- article/201801//systemic-crisis-kurdistan- journal.org/blog/201808/06//puk-gorran- region-iraq/ relations-in-post-kurdish-referendum-a- 41) Boucek, F., 2009.Rethinking new-phase-of-conflict-in-green-zone/ factionalism: typologies, intra-party 33) Hawkar Abdullah Azeez. ‘Gorran: A dynamics and three faces of factionalism. Party of Words, not Deeds’, The Washington Party Politics, 15(4), pp.455485-. Institute for Near East Policy, 2019. https:// 42) Saadi Ahmed Pira, 2018. Gali www.washingtoninstitute.org/fikraforum/ Kurdistan TV interview with Saadi Ahmed view/gorran-movement-a-party-of-words- Pira. not-deeds 43) Abdulla Mala Nuri reveled the 34) Abdulla Rishawe. ‘19 August causes of the decreases in Gorran’s votes. is a deadlock’, Azhans, 2016. http://azhans. Milletpress, October, 2018, available at: krd/19%D989-%%D8%A6%D8%A7%D https://www.milletpress.com/Detail.aspx?Ji 8%A8%D88%C%D8%A8%D8%A7%D amre=75318&T=%D8%B9%D987%%E2% 8%B2%D986%%D987%%E28%80%C 8%80C%D8%A8%D8%AF%D988%%DA %D989-%%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AE% %B5%D8%A7%D920%%89%D985%%D9 D8%B1%D8%A7%D988%/ 87%%E28%80%C%D984%%D8%A720% 35) Rudaw, eds. ‘PM Barzani sacks %D986%%D988%%D8%B1%D9%20 89%

28 %D987%%DB%86%D983%%D8%A7%D 8%A7%D8%B1%D987%%E28%80%C% 8%B1%D987%%E28%80%C%D983%% D983%%D8%A7%D986%%D920%89% D8%A7%D986%%D920%%89%D9%BE %D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%B4%D98% %D8%A7%D8%B4%D987%%E28%80% 7%E28%80%C%D983%%D8%B4%D C%D983%%D8%B4%D987%%E2%80% 987%%E28%80%C%D920%%89%D8 8C%D920%%89%D8%A8%D8%B2%D9 %A8%D8%B2%D988%%D8%AA%D %88%D8%AA%D986%%D987%%E2% 986%%D987%%E28%80%C%D988% 8%80C%D988%%D987%%E28%80% %D987%%E28%80%C%D920%89% C%D920%%89%DA%AF%DB%86%D %DA%AF%DB%86%DA%95%D8 A%95%D8%A7%D920%86% %A7%D920%%86%D8%A6%D8 %D8%A6%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9 %A7%D8%B4%D983%%D8%B %83%D8%B1%D8%A720%%D8%AF%D 1%D8%A720%%D8%AF%D98% 987%%E28%80%C%D983%%D8%A7%D 7%E28%80%C%D983%%D8%A7%D 8%AA&fb_comment_id=20940214439554 8%AA&fb_comment_id=20940214439554 80_2094551737235784 80_2094551737235784 44) Bengio O. The Kurds in a Volatile 49) Rudaw, eds. Gorran slams Kurdistan Middle East. Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic parliament›s first session, Rudaw, Studies; 2017 Feb. 2017. http://www.rudaw.net/english/ 45) Fazel Hawramy. ‘Iraqi Kurdistan›s kurdistan/150920172 Movement for Change faces rebellion from 50) Rudaw, eds. ‘Gorran: People are within’,Al-Monitor, July 9, 2018. https://www. free to vote as they choose in referendum’, al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/201807// Rudaw,2017. http://www.rudaw.net/english/ change-movement-nawshirwan-mustafa- kurdistan/2409201712 kurdistan-iraq.html#ixzz5jebuyvvV 51) Spee Media, eds. ‘General coordinator 46) ‘Gorran’s properties were inherited to of Gorran Movement voted’, 2017. Spee Chia and Nma’, 2017. http://www.pukonline. Media. http://www.speemedia.com/dreja. org/kurdistani.aspx?jimare=7986&cor=1 aspx?jmare=49449 47) HeminBaqer. ‘Gorran Movement, 52) Morgan L. Kaplan (2019) Foreign conflcit between eagle and dove’, Diplomatic Support, Miscalculation, and Conflict Magazine, 2017. https://diplomaticmagazine. Escalation: Iraqi Kurdish Self-Determination net/politics/25 in Perspective, Ethnopolitics, 18:1, 2945- 48) Abdulla Mala Nuri reveled the causes of the decreases in Gorran’s votes. Other sources: Milletpress, October, 2018, available at: https://www.milletpress.com/Detail.aspx? Farhad Hassan Abdullah.’THE POLITICAL Jiamre=75318&T=%D8%B9%D987%%E SYSTEM IN IRAQI 28%80%C%D8%A8%D8%AF%D988% KURDISTAN: PARTY RIVALRIES AND %DA%B5%D8%A7%D920%%89%D9% FUTURE PERSPECTIVES’, Asian Affairs, 85%D987%%E28%80%C%D984%%D8 (2018). DOI:10.108003068374.2018.15211/ %A720%%D986%%D988%%D8%B1%D 20 920%%89%D987%%DB%86%D983%%D Rudaw,eds. ‘KDP and PUK are drafting a

29 4-year agreement’,Rudaw, 2019. http://www. of PUK’, the Kurdish Policy Foundation, rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/200120193 January 30, 2017. https://kurdishpolicy. Michael Rubin. ‘Why Have the Kurds org/201730/01//doublestandard- supplied ISIS with Weapons?’, Newsweek, inconsistent-policies-of-puk/. 2016. https://www.newsweek.com/why- KNN. What are those agreements and have-kurds-supplied-isis-weapons-452673 deals that the PUK did not abide by Kurdistan Islamic Union fiercely them. KNN. https://www.facebook.com/ responds to Yosef Mohammed. Rewsh watch/?v=2509985679074072 Post. http://rewshpost.com/kurdish/ ‘The Internal Constitution of Gorran index.php?option=com_content&view Movement’, 2013, Erbil. =article&id=4255:2016-02-13-16-01- Rudaw, eds. Gorran leader Nawshirwan 58&catid=90&Itemid=728 Mustafa dies at 73 after long battle with Michel Gunter. ‘Barzani’s refusal to step illness. Rudaw, 19 May, 2017. http://www. down created the political crisis in Kurdistan’, rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/19052017 Ekurd daily, 2017. https://ekurd.net/barzani- International Crisis Group. ‘After Iraqi refusal-step-down-201725-05- Kurdistan’s Thwarted Independence Rudaw, eds. ‘KRG to make more salary cuts Bid’, International Crisis Group, 2019. in 2018 after losing Kirkuk oil’, Rudaw, https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east- 2017. http://www.rudaw.net/english/ north-africa/gulf-and-arabian-peninsula/ kurdistan/121220176 iraq/199-after-iraqi-kurdistans-thwarted- HawreHasan Hama and Arkan Ahmed Jaf. independence-bid ‘Double Standard, Inconsistent Policies

30 Kurdistan conflict and Crisis Research Center

The Kurdistan Conflict and Crisis Research Center (KCCRC) is an independent and not-for-profit organisation based in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. KCCRC conducts research and produces policy papers regarding Kurdish, Iraqi and related studies. Within this framework, KCCRC focuses its research on the politics and economics of the region at the macro level, and at the micro level, it concentrates on issues surrounding but not limited to the following;

• Ethnic and Sectarian Conflict • Terrorism • Islamism, extremism and radicalisation • Instability • Internally displaced peoples • Oil and Gas • Political Economy • Ethnic and Sectarian conflict • International politics

KCCRC delivers for its clients by using its unique geographic position to take advantage of the expertise of local and international scholars to give the most precise picture of Kurdish, Iraqi and Middle Eastern affairs.