ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has presented a roadmap to end a yearlong political impasse in the Kurdistan Region that has virtually paralyzed the parliament and left the government in crisis since October 2015.
HDP co-leader Selahattin Demirtaş, who visited the Kurdistan Region last week and held closed talks with key figures in the political process including President Masoud Barzani, has reportedly offered to mediate between opposing parties in the coalition government in an effort to end the deadlock.
The details of his proposal have so far not been unveiled, but party officials tell Rudaw the roadmap included a "reactivation" of the Kurdish parliament in Erbil which has not convened since October last year.
Political tensions culminated last year when angry rioters stormed the offices of the dominant Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in several cities. Three KDP members were killed and dozens were wounded.
The KDP then accused the Change Movement (Gorran) of having masterminded the deadly riots and, in retaliation, it expelled Parliament Speaker Yousef Muhammad, a prominent Gorran member.
The parliament has failed to convene since October after several parties boycotted the assembly and demanded Muhammad's return, something the KDP has categorically rejected.
A lingering dispute between the parties is also the presidency of Masoud Barzani, the KDP leader who Gorran lobbied to unseat.
"It is a delicate situation and apparently we are aware of the fact that unity is needed now more than ever, but there should be no preconditions for the talks to resume," said Ahmed Kani, a KDP spokesman who welcomed the roadmap without commenting on the details of the plan.
Demirtaş returned to Erbil on Sunday to meet the Kurdish president for the second time this week after holding talks with political parties in Sulaimani and Kirkuk.
HDP co-leader Selahattin Demirtaş, who visited the Kurdistan Region last week and held closed talks with key figures in the political process including President Masoud Barzani, has reportedly offered to mediate between opposing parties in the coalition government in an effort to end the deadlock.
The details of his proposal have so far not been unveiled, but party officials tell Rudaw the roadmap included a "reactivation" of the Kurdish parliament in Erbil which has not convened since October last year.
Political tensions culminated last year when angry rioters stormed the offices of the dominant Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in several cities. Three KDP members were killed and dozens were wounded.
The KDP then accused the Change Movement (Gorran) of having masterminded the deadly riots and, in retaliation, it expelled Parliament Speaker Yousef Muhammad, a prominent Gorran member.
The parliament has failed to convene since October after several parties boycotted the assembly and demanded Muhammad's return, something the KDP has categorically rejected.
A lingering dispute between the parties is also the presidency of Masoud Barzani, the KDP leader who Gorran lobbied to unseat.
"It is a delicate situation and apparently we are aware of the fact that unity is needed now more than ever, but there should be no preconditions for the talks to resume," said Ahmed Kani, a KDP spokesman who welcomed the roadmap without commenting on the details of the plan.
Demirtaş returned to Erbil on Sunday to meet the Kurdish president for the second time this week after holding talks with political parties in Sulaimani and Kirkuk.
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