- Movement for Change
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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 / 325Seats in the Kurdistan Parliament: 25 / 111Website http://gorran.org Politics of Iraq
Political parties
ElectionsThe 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.
Nawshirwan Mustafa at a Gorran Rally
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 protestsIn 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 Gorran Movement 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 and Author 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, Arbil and Ranya Envoy to the Chairman 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, Arbil and Ranya Mustafa Said Qadir Prominent Activist - Ranya Former PUK Politburo Member Jalal Jawher Prominent Activist - Kirkuk Former PUK Politburo Member Osman Hagi Mahmud Prominent Activist - Kalar Former PUK Politburo Member 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, Arbil and Rowanduz Former Spokesman 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 Sherzad Hafiz Member of Parliament Former Peshmerga Kwestan Abdullah Member of Parliament First Female Head of a Parliamentary Faction References
- ^ ""Goran" opposition movement becomes political party". medyanews.com. 02-10-2011. http://medyanews.com/english/?p=401. Retrieved 01-21-2010.
- ^ New Kurdish party to challenge polls BBCNews Retrieved Feb 01 2011.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Reformist gains in Kurdish vote shake Iraq's quiet north The Independent Retrieved 27 July 2009.
- ^ Goran leaves Iraq's Kurdish alliance with less clout AlArabiya Retrieved Feb 01 2011.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Gains Seen for Kurdish Challengers New York Times Retrieved 27 July 2009.
- ^ Kurdish Iraq: An Emerging Success CBSNews Retrieved Feb 01 2011.
- ^ The Kurdish way TheEconomist Retrieved Feb 01 2011.
- ^ Change the Kurds can believe in Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved Feb 01 2011.
- ^ Kurdish election lists, Niqash, 30 June 2009
- ^ 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.
- ^ http://www.kurdmedia.com/article.aspx?id=16609
- ^ "Iraqis protest in Kurdish region, capital". Reuters. 19 February 2011. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/19/us-iraq-protests-idUSTRE71I31Z20110219.
- ^ http://svt.se/2.22584/1.2332917/tonarig_demonstrant_dodad_i_irak&queryArt527895=kurdistan&sortOrder527895=0&doneSearch=true&sd=47225&from=siteSearch&pageArt527895=0
- ^ http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gvqM5KohOmVipuRKfb39gRT968oQ?docId=6029572
- ^ http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/3452.html
- ^ http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE14/006/2011/en/e78f63a5-67e6-4cbd-b25f-58648ff3cd55/mde140062011en.html
- ^ http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE14/005/2011/en
- ^ http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/02/17/iraq-investigate-protester-deaths
External links
- - Official Gorran Website
- Al Jazeera English - Iraqi Kurds form new party
- Washington Post - New candidate emerges among Iraq's Kurds
- NPR - Iraqi Kurds Try To Reform Two-Party System
Parliamentary political parties in Iraq 
Iraqi National Movement (91) Iraqi National Accord (28) · Iraqi National Dialogue Front (16) · National Movement for Development and Reform (13) · al-Hadba (9) · National Future Gathering (8) · Renewal List (7) · The Iraqis (6) · Iraqi Turkmen Front (3) · Iraqi Arab Gathering (1) · Assembly of Independent DemocratsState of Law Coalition (89) Islamic Dawa Party · Iraq Organisation · Anbar Salvation National Front · Islamic Union of Iraqi TurkomanNational Iraqi Alliance (70) Sadrist Movement (40) · Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq & Badr Organization (18) · Islamic Virtue Party (6) · National Reform Trend (2) · Hezbollah Movement in Iraq (1) · Gathering of Justice and Unity (1) · Iraqi National Congress (1) · Tribes of Iraq Coalition · Constitutional Monarchy MovementKurdistan List (43) Kurdistan Democratic Party (26) · Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (17) · Kurdistan Toilers' Party · Kurdistan Communist Party – Iraq · Islamic Movement of Kurdistan · Turkmen Brotherhood Movement · Kurdistan Socialist Democratic PartyOthers Movement for Change (8) · Unity Alliance of Iraq (4) · Iraqi Accord Front (6) · Kurdistan Islamic Union (4) · Islamic Group of Kurdistan (2) · National Front for the Salvation of IraqPolitics of Iraq Kurdistan Democratic Party - Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (59) • Change List (25) • Kurdistan Islamic Union - Islamic Group of Kurdistan - Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party (13) • Turkmen Democratic Movement (3) • Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council (3) • Islamic Movement of Kurdistan (2) • Assyrian Democratic Movement (2) • Kurdistan Communist Party (1) • Iraqi Turkmen Front (1) • Erbil Turkmen (1) • Independent Armenian (1)
Categories:- Iraqi Kurdistan
- Political parties in Iraqi Kurdistan
- Kurdish organisations
- Political parties in Iraq
- Regionalist parties
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