Kurdish parties resume presidency debate in Erbil

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Deadlocked political parties met for the fifth time Wednesday to seek agreement over the presidency of Masoud Barzani, which technically expired on August 20. 

The meeting between the five main parties returned to Erbil after a session was held in Sulaimani earlier this week. Despite the numerous closed-door meetings, little progress has been reported to the press. 

“The situations require us to make a final decision," Fuad Hussein, Barzani's chief of staff, told Rudaw.

Parliament suspended an emergency session meant to reach agreement on the presidential term after the required number of lawmakers failed to attend.

Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) asked for an extension to his presidency, citing the war with ISIS and the grinding economic crisis. The iconic Kurdish leader has been president since 2005, an extension would be his second since 2013. 

The issue has polarized political parties in the region's already factional parliament.

Kurdish parliament is currently reviewing a draft of a regional constitution that will be put to referendum after it is ratified.