Here is a look at the life of Massoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Iraq. Father: General Mustafa Barzani, was chief of the military of the Kurdish Republic of Mahabad.
Since 1979, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party has been KDP.
Barzani was born on the same day that the KDP was founded in 1946.
1970 - Is a member of the Kurdish delegation in talks with the government of Baghdad seeking a peace accord authorizing Kurdish self-government. An agreement is reached between the Kurds and Iraqi government.
After the death of his father, he elected the president of the KDP in 1979.
The Kurds in northern Iraq are divided into eastern and western political factions. Barzani is named head of the northwestern region as head of the KDP. In the east, a parallel government is established under the PUK.
Barzani leads a war against the PUK in 1994 -- 1998. A peace agreement is reached in August 1998.
October 4, 2002 - Barzani and Talabani, the leader of the PUK, apologize to the families of victims of their internal war.
January 30, 2005 - Barzani is one of approximately 7,700 candidates in Iraq's first free elections in over 50 years.
President of the Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq in June 2005.
July 25, 2009 - Re-election of Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq with 71% of the vote.
The Kurdish parliament voted to extend Barzani's presidential term an additional two years.
Nephew, Nechirvan Barzani, is appointed as the prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government's cabinet.
May 28, 2019 - Barzani's nephew, Nechirvan Barzani, is elected president, making him the second president of the Kurdish Regional Government.
The son of Barzani, Masrour Barzani, is elected the prime minister of Kurdish regional government on the day after his cousin is sworn in as president.