Kurdistan Region’s Parliament President, Arsalan Baez claimed that Nawshirwan Mustafa, the General Coordinator of the Change Movement told him before that he agrees with the extension of Masoud Barzani’s presidency term in Kurdistan on one condition.

In an interview with Arsalan Baez, President of Parliament in semi-autonomous Kurdistan broadcasted by Gali Kurdistan TV channel on late Monday, he explained that Nawshirwan Mustafa, the General Coordinator of Goran (change) opposition expressed his satisfaction upon presidency term extension of Masoud Barzani on condition of returning back this right to Parliament.

Baez further explained that they have met before and discussed the issue in details. During a meeting that the two sides held before the decision on extension being discussed in Parliament, Nawshirwan agreed on President Barzani’s presidency mandate for even another term of 4 years. But Nawshirwan asked for a Parliamentary system in which president will be selected in parliament and not by people’s vote.

“He said we will vote for President Barzani’s another term in power if the decision returns back to the Parliament not among people”, Baez said.

“I said despite the fact that parliament members are representative of people, we believe in people’s right to have a direct involvement to select their president” Baez added.

Barzani's presidency had been due to end this summer, when his second term of four years ends. Kurdish lawmakers voted in Parliament on Sunday authorized President Barzani to stay in power for two more years.

Parliament announced that President Barzani will remain in power until August 19, 2015; the decision came after the majority of voters agreed on the extension of presidency term while it caused tension in Parliament hall among main parties and oppositions.