Rabun Maarof told Kurdpress in an interview that he and three other parliament members of the movement will not follow the policies of the movement and would not follow Abdulwahid any longer.

His made the remarks in the interview days after there the movement’s faction in the Iraqi parliament and the supreme council of the movement released a joint statement and revealed deep tensions inside the movements and criticisms against its leader. Ultimately four member of the movement, which includes 50 percent of the movement’s faction in Kurdistan Region’s local parliament expressed their support to the statement.

Maarof told Kurdpress that the lack of democracy and freedom in the political and organizational entity of the parties in Kurdistan Region, the hegemony and full control of families and tribes over political parties and the infusion of politics and trade are the three main reasons that have led to the failure of the party.

He further added that the members of the movement hoped trade and commerce would be separated from political goals of a party but New Generation Movement is fully under the control and misuse of Abdulwahid and the situation have made the movement an undemocratic one as decision are solely made by the leader.

Maarof reiterated that the movement and trade are intertwined and no one can divide themselves from each other as Abdulwahid wants the movement as a tool to achieve his commercial goals not to make reforms and make fundamental changes in the political system of Kurdistan Region in order to pave the way for a better life for the people of the region.

The parliament member revealed that there is no freedom and democracy in the movement and therefore we want the public to know what is going on inside the movement.

About Abdulwahid’s remarks over the crisis in the party and blaming the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) for the situation in the movement, Maarof stated that the remarks prove the leader’s political inability as he is hiding himself behind lying and accusations, stressing that we believe that the ruling parties are responsible for all disasters and catastrophes in the region and the two parties are also responsible for creating a situation in the region in which the New Generation Movement leader can establish a party which is only seeking commercial interests.

Maarof further confirmed discussions were held among the members of the movement and many concluded Abdulwahid does not believe in the least amount of democracy in an organization and party and therefore it is impossible to work with him in a democratic situation.

The parliament member stressed that the political situation in the region is not welcoming for the oppositions but reiterated that they will work hard to improve democratic standards in the region.

Reporter’s code: 50101