In the election, the party’s General Council and Executive Body were also reelected. Ali secured the post of party head by winning 28 votes. His opponent Shorsh Haji won 12.
According to the party’s by-laws, internal elections are to be held every two years for all Gorran party institutions, including for the post of party leader. They were held on July 25, 2017, and were held again today to address complaints about the legitimacy of the party’s institutions.
In a telephone call with the newly reelected Gorran leader, head of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Masoud Barzani congratulated Ali on his reelection and wished him success.
Deputy leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Kosrat Rasul also issued a statement following the Gorran elections, congratulating its newly-elected party leaders, including former PUK politburo member Ali.
“I hope your reelection as leader of the Gorran party plays a positive role in developing bilateral relations and unity among all political parties in order to overcome the problems and end crises,” Rasul said.
President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani also congratulated Ali on his reelection and wished him success. All shared hope for concerted party and government efforts to serve the people of Kurdistan.
Gorran splintered from the PUK in 2009 following bitter disagreements over party management and reform.
Following its establishment, Gorran achieved remarkable success in the 2009 Kurdish parliamentary elections, winning 25 seats. It held onto 24 of those seats in 2014.
The death of party founder Nawshirwan Mustafa in 2017 plunged the party into a leadership crisis, causing high-profile resignations.
The party experienced a steady decline in popularity, attributed in part to the death of Mustafa. It took just 12 seats in the 2018 Kurdish parliamentary elections.
With its transition from the opposition to participation in the new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), it now occupies some key cabinet positions, including a presidential aide, ministers of finance, social affairs, trade, and reconstruction.
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