Gorran Movement facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gorran Movement
بزووتنهوەی گۆڕان
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|---|---|
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| Leader | Omar Said Ali |
| Founder | Nawshirwan Mustafa |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan |
| Ideology |
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| Political position | Centre to centre-left |
| Colors | Blue |
| Council of Representatives of Iraq |
0 / 329
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| Kurdistan Parliament |
12 / 111
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The Gorran Movement (which means Movement for Change in Kurdish) is a political party in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It is often called just Gorran. The party was started in 2009 by Nawshirwan Mustafa. Later, Omar Said Ali became its leader. Gorran is currently the sixth largest party in the Kurdistan Region.
Contents
Gorran's Early Years and Goals
When it first started, the Gorran Movement quickly became very popular. Many people liked that it was a new option in Kurdistan. The party wanted to end the control of power by only a few groups. One of Gorran's main goals was to stop widespread corruption.
Gorran was especially popular with young people in Kurdistan. It campaigned against the system where jobs and favors are given based on connections, not skill. The party included former members of other parties, fighters called Peshmerga, and academics. Gorran believed that other major parties were not doing enough for the Kurds in the Iraqi parliament.
Elections in 2009 and 2010
In the 2009 Kurdistan Region parliamentary election, Gorran won 25 seats. This made it the second most successful group. The party saw this as a big win.
For the 2009 election, Gorran promised to make the regional government less political. They wanted to make the justice system stronger. They also aimed to limit political influence in the economy. Another goal was to make the government's budget more open. Gorran supported a federal system for Iraq. They believed disagreements with the central government could be solved through talks.
Gorran was seen as the main opposition to the ruling parties. They focused on issues they saw as corruption by other political groups.
Elections in 2013 and 2014
Gorran continued to win seats in later elections. They won 24 seats in the 2013 Kurdistan Region parliamentary election. In the 2014 Iraqi parliamentary election, they secured 9 seats.
Protests in 2011
In 2011, there were protests in Kurdistan. Gorran called for the government to step down during these events. They also protested against the ruling parties. Human rights groups asked for protests to be allowed. They also called for investigations into incidents of violence that occurred during the protests.
Gorran Under New Leadership
After Nawshirwan Mustafa passed away in May 2017, Omar Said Ali was chosen as the new leader. Six other members were also elected to the party's leadership team.
Elections in 2018
Under Omar Said Ali's leadership, Gorran's popularity began to decline. In the 2018 Kurdistan parliamentary election, they won 12 seats. In the 2018 Iraqi parliamentary election, they won 5 seats. This was a big drop in votes compared to earlier elections. Many followers and important members left the party.
There were also internal disagreements within Gorran. Some officials worried about the party's future. They felt the party was facing serious challenges.
A new movement called New Generation started to gain support. This happened as Gorran's popularity decreased.
Gorran also faced internal disagreements about how the party's money and property were managed. This issue caused concern among many members. Some former supporters felt that these disagreements went against the party's founding principles.
As a result of these challenges, Gorran became divided into two main groups. One group was seen as wanting to turn Gorran into a party led by a few families. The other group disagreed with this idea.
Gorran's Recent Challenges
In the 2021 Iraqi parliamentary elections, Gorran did not win any seats. This was a very difficult outcome for the party. The election campaign was led by Omar Said Ali and the sons of the founder, Nawshirwan Mustafa.
After this defeat, the party's leadership decided to step down on October 13, 2021. Many people who observe politics said this election result was a major blow for Gorran. The party's votes had decreased by a large amount since its founding. It is now the sixth largest political party in the Kurdistan Region.
Some former Gorran supporters held protests. They asked the current leaders to leave the party headquarters. There are rumors that Osman Haji Mahmoud and Dr. Yusuf Mohammed might take over Gorran's leadership. A historian named David McDowall said that in the end, Gorran "changed nothing."
Members Joining New Parties
After leaving Gorran, some former members have started new political groups.
For example, former Member of Parliament Ali Hama Saleh started a new opposition party called the National Stance Movement in March 2024. This new party focuses on fighting corruption. Other former Gorran members also helped found this party.
Another former Gorran MP, Ednan Usman, joined Lahur Sheikh Jangi's People's Front. He was chosen as a candidate for their list in the 2024 Kurdistan Region parliamentary election.
Gorran Party Structure
Gorran has different groups that help it run.
Executive Assembly
This is the main leadership group. The positions are currently vacant. These roles include:
- General coordinator of Gorran.
- Coordinator of internal chambers.
- Coordinator of national assembly.
- Coordinator of public assembly.
- Coordinator of Parliament groups.
- Coordinator of regional representatives.
- Coordinator of public relations.
National Assembly
The National Assembly helps create the party's policies. It includes leaders of Gorran's groups in the Iraqi and Kurdish parliaments. It also has coordinators from different Gorran departments. District officials and representatives chosen in Gorran's internal elections are also part of this assembly.
General Assembly
The General Assembly gives advice to the party. It is made up of former Gorran leaders who have held office and are now retired.
Notable Members
- Vice President Mustafa Said Qadir
- MP Dr Ghalib Muhammad
- MP Ali Hama Saleh
- MP Kawa Muhammad
- MP Yousif Muhammed Sadiq
