Movement for Change

Movement for Change
Bzutinewey‌ Gorran
بزوتنه‌وه‌ی‌ گۆڕان
Leader Nawshirwan Mustafa
Founded 2009
Ideology Kurdish Nationalism, Federalism, Economic liberalism
Political position Centre
Official colours Blue
Seats in the Council of Representatives of Iraq:
8 / 325
Seats in the Kurdistan Parliament:
25 / 111
Website
http://gorran.org
Politics of Iraq
Political parties
Elections

The Movement for Change (Kurdish: Bzutinewey‌ Gorran, Kurdish: بزوتنه‌وه‌ی‌ گۆڕان‎‎) also known as Change List (Kurdish: Lîstî Gorran) or Gorran is a reformist Iraqi Kurdish political party[1] under the leadership of Nawshirwan Mustafa, founded in 2009 it is the official opposition to the ruling two-party coalition of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan which governs the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Contents

Formation

According to the BBC "Gorran has already shaken the political landscape in Kurdish areas".[2] Support for the Movement for Change "stems from the simple fact that it is the new, dynamic, fresh option in Kurdistan"[3] and it's "calls for an end to monopoly control of power".[4] One of Gorran's main objectives is to "uproot rampant corruption"[5] the party is particularly popular with the youth of Kurdistan and campaigns against patronage[6] broadly speaking consists of disenchanted (former) PUK/KDP members, Peshmerga and academics.[7] Gorran supporters have often faced "violent intimidation".[8] Gorran have stated in the The Economist that "the KDP and PUK have done a poor job of promoting the Kurds’ interests at the federal parliament in Baghdad".[9] The party in the 2009 and 2010 elections "won the in city and the province of Sulaimaniyah".[10]

History

2009 Kurdistan Elections

The movement's platform for the 2009 election was to de-politicise the regional government, strengthen the judiciary, limit political interference in the economy and make the budget more transparent. Supporting federalism for Iraqi Kurdistan, it said disputes with the central government could be solved through dialogue based on the Iraqi Constitution.[11]

The Change List won a total of 25 seats in the July 2009 elections,[12] making it the second-most successful list in the election after the Kurdistani List. The party views the election results as a huge victory.

2010 Iraqi General Elections

Considered to be the main opposition to the KDP-PUK alliance, particularly in PUK dominated areas. Most of its members, including the leader Nawshirwan Mustafa, are ex-PUK officials. It is running mainly to address what it sees as corruption undertaken by the KDP and PUK, It took eight seats.

2011 Sulaymaniyah protests

Main article: 2011 Sulaymaniyah protests

In 2011 the party called for the resignation of the Cabinet and the disbanding of the Kurdistan Regional Government during the protests in Kurdistan that followed the 2011 Egyptian protests.[13] This was accompanied by protests against Kurdistan Regional Government and the Kurdistan Democratic Party.[14][15][16] Some have criticized the party for causing unnecessary unrest, arguing that there is no need for the Kurdish government to step down.[17] Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch have urged for the protests to be allowed and for an independent investigation into the killings to be made.[18][19][20]

Notable members

Name Position Note
Nawshirwan Mustafa Leader of Gorran Founder of the Movement for Change and Co-Founder of the PUK
Dr. Zana Raouf Head of Gorran in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate Former Member of Parliament and University Lecturer
Yusif Mohammed Sadeq Head of Gorran's Political Research Centre University Lecturer
Dr. Shaho Sa'ed Official Party Spokesmen Former Member of Parliament and University Lecturer
Rebin Ahmed Hardi Special Advisor to Nawshirwan Mustafa Journalist, Author and Son of Ahmad Hardi
Mohammad Tofiq Rahim Prominent Activist - Sulaymaniyah and Duhok Former PUK Politburo Member
Dana Ahmed Majid Prominent Activist - Sulaymaniyah Former Sulaymaniyah Governor
Chia Nawshiwan Mustafa Prominent Activist - Sulaymaniyah and Arbil Envoy to the Chairman and Son of Nawshirwan Mustafa
Omar Said Ali Prominent Activist - Sulaymaniyah Former PUK Politburo Member
Qadir Hagi Ali Prominent Activist - Sulaymaniyah Former PUK Politburo Member
Nma Nawshirwan Mustafa Prominent Activist - Sulaymaniyah and Arbil Son of Nawshirwan Mustafa
Mustafa Said Qadir Prominent Activist - Ranya Former PUK Politburo Member and KRG Minister of the Peshmerga
Jalal Jawher Prominent Activist - Kirkuk Former PUK Politburo Member
Osman Hagi Mahmud Prominent Activist - Kalar Former PUK Politburo Member and KRG Minister of the Interior
Mam Rostem Prominent Activist - Kirkuk Veteran Peshmerga and General (Ret.)
Kurdo Kasim Prominent Activist - Khanaqin Veteran Peshmerga and General (Ret.)
Sarkawt Hassan Jalal (Kubba) Prominent Activist - Sulaymaniyah Veteran Peshmerga and Former Head of the Sulaymaniyah Asaish
Jwamer B Mustafa Prominent Activist - Sulaymaniyah and Arbil Former Spokesman and Nephew of Nawshirwan Mustafa
Safin Mala Qara Prominent Activist - Arbil Veteran Peshmerga and Former Head of the Arbil Asaish
Osman Banimarani Prominent Activist - Arbil Veteran Peshmerga and Former Member of Parliament
Salar Aziz Prominent Activist - Sulaymaniyah Former Sulaymaniyah Governor
Sherzad Hafiz Member of Parliament Former Peshmerga
Kwestan Abdullah Member of Parliament First Female Head of a Parliamentary Faction

References

  1. ^ ""Goran" opposition movement becomes political party". medyanews.com. 02-10-2011. http://medyanews.com/english/?p=401. Retrieved 01-21-2010. 
  2. ^ New Kurdish party to challenge polls BBCNews Retrieved Feb 01 2011.
  3. ^ "Up on the Hill is where you'll find us". http://blog.fpc.org.uk/.+03-06-2010. http://blog.fpc.org.uk/2010/03/up-on-hill-is-where-youll-find-us.html. Retrieved 03-06-2010. 
  4. ^ Reformist gains in Kurdish vote shake Iraq's quiet north The Independent Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  5. ^ Goran leaves Iraq's Kurdish alliance with less clout AlArabiya Retrieved Feb 01 2011.
  6. ^ "Iraq and the United States: creating a strategic partnership - Google Books". Books.google.co.uk. 2009-09-01. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=KgEo2q76J_0C&pg=PA146&lpg=PA146&dq=gorran+make+up+iraq&source=bl&ots=MOL6ryN0pP&sig=8ckj3aQ2yvMNjaEwUhx_quHf4SY&hl=en&ei=LQWjTu7NJYSHhQeIw8HYBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=gorran%20make%20up%20iraq&f=false. Retrieved 2011-10-20. 
  7. ^ Gains Seen for Kurdish Challengers New York Times Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  8. ^ Kurdish Iraq: An Emerging Success CBSNews Retrieved Feb 01 2011.
  9. ^ The Kurdish way TheEconomist Retrieved Feb 01 2011.
  10. ^ Change the Kurds can believe in Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved Feb 01 2011.
  11. ^ Kurdish election lists, Niqash, 30 June 2009
  12. ^ Dagher, Sam (26 July 2009). "Iraqi Kurds come out to vote in high numbers". The San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/25/MNFM18V5US.DTL. 
  13. ^ http://www.kurdmedia.com/article.aspx?id=16609
  14. ^ "Iraqis protest in Kurdish region, capital". Reuters. 19 February 2011. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/19/us-iraq-protests-idUSTRE71I31Z20110219. 
  15. ^ http://svt.se/2.22584/1.2332917/tonarig_demonstrant_dodad_i_irak&queryArt527895=kurdistan&sortOrder527895=0&doneSearch=true&sd=47225&from=siteSearch&pageArt527895=0
  16. ^ http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gvqM5KohOmVipuRKfb39gRT968oQ?docId=6029572
  17. ^ http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/3452.html
  18. ^ http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE14/006/2011/en/e78f63a5-67e6-4cbd-b25f-58648ff3cd55/mde140062011en.html
  19. ^ http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE14/005/2011/en
  20. ^ http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/02/17/iraq-investigate-protester-deaths

External links

Iraqi National Movement (91)
State of Law Coalition (89)
National Iraqi Alliance (70)
Kurdistan List (43)
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