Kurdistan Parliament elects Masrour Barzani as new Prime Minister of Kurdistan

Kurdistan Region Parliament on Tuesday passed Masrour Barzani’s candidacy for the post of Prime Minister.

Barzani, who currently serves as the Chancellor of Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC), was nominated by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) who emerged victorious in the parliamentary elections last year.

Out of 97 lawmakers in attendance, 87 voted in favor of Masrour Barzani.

The Parliament is now required to send Barzani’s profile to Kurdistan Region President. He will then be tasked to form the new cabinet within 30 days.

Masrour Barzani is known for his remarkable success during his tenure as the top security chief of the Kurdistan Region. He is regarded by the international community as a key figure who led the war against the Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East.

Born in 1969, Masrour Barzani joined the Peshmerga forces at the age of 16.

He earned a degree in International Studies at the American University in Washington DC. He later studied Peace and Conflict Resolutions for his MA.

Who is Masrour Barzani?

Masrour was born March 2, 1969 in the village of Dilman in the Balakayati area of Erbil province. He is married with three daughters and one son.

 

He joined the Peshmerga in 1985 and studied political sciences at the American University in Washington DC. He later obtained master's degree in conflict resolution.

Masrour was elected to the KDP politburo in the party’s 12th congress in 1999, and founded the Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) in 2005.

In July 2012 he was elected chancellor of the KRSC, in charge of the Asayish and other security services. 

He is honorary chancellor of the American University of Duhok.