Barzani said in a statement on Saturday, November 30, that his party welcomes any steps that could contribute to resolving the ongoing political crisis embodied by weeks of street protests and the expected resignation of Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi.
“We are closely monitoring the recent developments and welcome any steps which could contribute to resolving the crisis and not lead to the return of dictatorship,” Barzani said in a tweet summarizing the statement, NRT reported.
“Any changes should take into consideration the rights of all components [and] must be in accordance to the Constitution.”
Barzani further said the KDP would support changes aimed at establishing security and stability and enforcing the rule of law, as well as meeting the protesters’ demands.
He denounced the killing of demonstrators, expressed his condolences to the families of those killed, and wished a “speedy recovery” to the wounded.
Many protesters have called for changes to the Iraqi constitution, which the Kurdistan Regional Government has greeted with caution, warning that it will not accept any changes that undermine its status.
Barzani’s statement comes one day after Abdul Mahdi said he would submit his resignation to the Council of Representatives, one of the demands of the protesters.
In a statement, the prime minister affirmed the principle of peaceful transfer of power and that said that a caretaker government would take over and continue to execute the reform plans of the current government.
“I ask of the Council of Representatives to find the proper solution for the situation in Iraq in their next session,” said Abdul Mahdi.
Iraqi protesters have welcomed the resignation but say it is not enough. They demand the overhaul of a political system they say is corrupt and keeps them in poverty and without opportunity.
The unrest, which has killed more than 400 people, mostly demonstrators, amounts to the biggest crisis confronting Iraq since Islamic State insurgents seized vast swathes of Iraqi and Syrian territory in 2014.
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