KRG to endorse Sulaimani’s new governor in his post

Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish Interior Ministry in Erbil has approved Haval Abu Bakir, of the Change Movement (Gorran) in his post the new governor of Sulaimani and has sent the paper to the office of the prime minister for endorsement.

"The letter to authorize Haval Abu Bakir to take office as governor was sent to the Interior Ministry last week. The interior minister signed and later today we will send it to the Council of Ministries to sign it, too," said Dr. Sami Jalal, an official from the ministry.

 

Jalal said they give the green light to Abu Bakir to assume the post "once the approval has been returned" to the Interior Ministry.

 

Gorran, in its main base of Sulaimani moved to take the governorship from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) after Masoud Barzani announced the end of his presidency of the Kurdistan Region late last month, handing over his powers to other regional institutions and the government, including the power to approve governors.

 

The position of Sulaimani governor has been a contentious political and legal matter between the PUK and Gorran since 2014. Three people have so far held the position of Sulaimani governor since the elections were last held.