Gorran leadership resigns following humiliating election defeat
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - All members of Change Movement's (Gorran) governing body, which includes its top leader, announced their resignations late Wednesday following the party’s unprecedented defeat in Iraq’s parliamentary elections. A temporary body has been appointed to take charge of the party.
“As an act of taking responsibility for this sensitive stage, we as the governing body of the Gorran movement have decided to resign. Meanwhile, a temporary body will be formed to govern the movement,” read a statement from the body.
Gorran, which won five seats in 2018, did not win any seats in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, according to preliminary results. The party’s leadership has acknowledged its role in the defeat.
“We apologize to the Gorran Movement voters and we bear responsibility for the mistakes and shortcomings … for losing the trust of people,” the governing body said on Monday.
Gorran’s National Assembly, second most powerful body, welcomed the move by the governing body which includes general coordinator Omar Sayyid Ali.
The assembly said that the resignations are “appreciated and are a direct response to the wills of Gorran supporters for change,” promising changes within the party as well as meeting with supporters.
Gorran entered the election race in coalition with its mother party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which also faced losses in the election.
PUK co-chair Bafel Talabani had hoped before the election that both parties could unite but this seems a long shot now as their coalition is said to have contributed to Gorran’s defeat.
Hours before Gorran’s governing body made the decision, the party's general coordinator visited Talabani, whose office later said he told his election ally their alliance would continue.
Gorran is a pro-reform party that shook the foundation of the ruling parties during the 2009 Kurdistan election by winning 25 seats in the 111 regional assembly in Erbil. The PUK and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) together received only 59 seats in that vote.
“As an act of taking responsibility for this sensitive stage, we as the governing body of the Gorran movement have decided to resign. Meanwhile, a temporary body will be formed to govern the movement,” read a statement from the body.
Gorran, which won five seats in 2018, did not win any seats in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, according to preliminary results. The party’s leadership has acknowledged its role in the defeat.
“We apologize to the Gorran Movement voters and we bear responsibility for the mistakes and shortcomings … for losing the trust of people,” the governing body said on Monday.
Gorran’s National Assembly, second most powerful body, welcomed the move by the governing body which includes general coordinator Omar Sayyid Ali.
The assembly said that the resignations are “appreciated and are a direct response to the wills of Gorran supporters for change,” promising changes within the party as well as meeting with supporters.
Gorran entered the election race in coalition with its mother party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which also faced losses in the election.
PUK co-chair Bafel Talabani had hoped before the election that both parties could unite but this seems a long shot now as their coalition is said to have contributed to Gorran’s defeat.
Hours before Gorran’s governing body made the decision, the party's general coordinator visited Talabani, whose office later said he told his election ally their alliance would continue.
Gorran is a pro-reform party that shook the foundation of the ruling parties during the 2009 Kurdistan election by winning 25 seats in the 111 regional assembly in Erbil. The PUK and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) together received only 59 seats in that vote.