Barzani Confirms His Resignation from Power

Masoud Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, confirmed his intention to resign from his position on Wednesday, November 1. According to Reuters, he also urged the Kurdistan Parliament to take measures to fill the power vacuum. The Kurdistan Democratic Party, which Barzani leads, announced that he stated in a letter to the Kurdistan Parliament that he would not extend his presidency. Barzani emphasized that he would remain as a Peshmerga. Earlier, Reuters reported, citing a Kurdistan official, that Barzani had no intention of holding the presidency after Wednesday. The unnamed source also mentioned that Barzani had clarified the division of presidential powers in a letter sent to the Kurdistan Parliament, and this issue would be discussed in the Parliament on Sunday. France Press also reported that Barzani has been under pressure to resign since the independence referendum held on September 25, which led to a deep crisis between Baghdad and Erbil. The central government of Iraq rejected the Kurdistan Region's referendum, deeming it unconstitutional, and requested other neighboring countries and the world to cut ties with the region. Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Region lost its control over the oil-rich province of Kirkuk amid the escalating crisis, and Baghdad took direct control of the area. After the Kurdistan Region lost control over Kirkuk, the opposition Gorran party called for Barzani to resign. Previously, parliamentary and presidential elections in the Kurdistan Region were scheduled for Wednesday but were postponed after the loss of Kirkuk. Barzani's presidency in the Kurdistan Region ended in 2013 but was extended for two years due to the crisis following ISIS attacks in 2014 and the occupation of large parts of Iraq.