15 February 2018 - 20:32

Mala Bakhtiar backs ‘transfer of power’ in Kurdistan Region

<p style="text-align:left">The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) is 100 percent in support of the transfer of power following the elections in the Kurdistan Region, senior official from the party said.

PUK Politburo Executive Secretary, Mala Bakhtiar, told NRT that the security forces would be handed over to the party winning in the elections.

“We are 100 percent with transfer of power to any party winning [the elections],” Bakhtiar said after being asked if the PUK was ready to give that power to the New Generation, in case the movement won the elections.

“The Asayish [security] forces are government and they will automatically be handed over,” he added.

Parliament and presidential elections in the Kurdish region were due to take place on November 1, but were postponed when significant tensions rose with the occupation of Kirkuk and other disputed areas, by Baghdad forces, in mid-October.

The Kurdistan Parliament, on October 24, extended its current term for another eight months after the elections were postponed.

A date for the presidential and parliamentary elections is yet to be set in the Kurdistan Region.

Reporter’s code: 50101

News Code 3950