Nechirvan Barzani mediates Agreement Between PUK and KDP on Election Results and Government Formation
Peregraf
Peregraf has disclosed an initiative put forth by Nechirvan Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region, aimed at establishing an agreement between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) regarding the outcomes of the Kurdistan parliamentary elections and the subsequent formation of a new cabinet.
A knowledgeable senior source informed Peregraf that "a few days prior to the commencement of the election campaign, Nechirvan Barzani encouraged the PUK and KDP to discreetly sign a document, with the awareness of Massoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani, agreeing to accept the election results regardless of the outcome and to collaborate in forming a government based on those results."
The source further indicated that "the attempt has not been successful," although the specific reasons or the party that opposed the proposal were not disclosed.
This initiative was reportedly undertaken "to preserve social harmony and consider the regional circumstances, with the intention of swiftly forming a cabinet post-elections, as the establishment of the next government is anticipated to encounter numerous challenges. The Iraqi parliamentary elections scheduled for October of the following year are expected to influence the winners of the Kurdistan parliamentary elections, making it difficult to reach a consensus on government formation."
The campaign for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections commenced on September 25, 2024, and will run until October 15. In a recent development, PUK President Bafel Talabani escalated tensions during his speech, where he vehemently criticized the KDP and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) led by Masrour Barzani.
Talabani's address was primarily focused on the PDK and its governance, asserting, "With the support of God and the people, we will dismantle this corrupt and filthy regime."
The High Election Supervisory Committee of the KDP issued a statement today regarding the speech delivered by Bafel Talabani yesterday. "The actions, demeanor, and statements of the PUK leader during his address reflect his true nature and do not necessitate a response. We will address him at the ballot boxes on October 20, 2024."
Kurdistan parliamentary elections scheduled for October 20, 2024.
The sixth round of Iraqi Kurdistan parliamentary elections should have been held in October 2022, despite internal and external pressure, but due to disagreements between the parties on the electoral law, especially the PUK and PDK on the seats of communities, the process was not held The Iraqi Federal Court ruled the extension "unconstitutional" and dissolved the Kurdistan parliament, leaving the region with a vacuum of legislative power and the government becoming the caretaker.
The Kurdistan Parliament consists of 100 seats and five seats are reserved for the communities. The election will be held in a four constituencies system.
The five seats are divided into three provinces, three seats in Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Duhok for the Christian community, and two seats in Erbil and Sulaimaniyah for the Turkmen community.
The seats in parliament are divided among the provinces as follows; Erbil province has 34 seats, two of which are for communities, Sulaimaniyah province has 38 seats, two of which are for communities, Duhok province has 25 seats, including one seat for communities, and Halabja province has three seats.
The election has been postponed four times so far. Initially, Nechirvan Barzani, the President of Kurdistan Region of Iraq set October 1, 2022 for the elections, but they were not held on that date. Despite three other times that the KRI President announced for the elections (18 November 2023, 25 February 2024 and 10 June 2024), the elections were not held on those three dates.
Following the first elections on 19 May 1992, no elections for the Kurdistan Parliament have been held within the legal deadline during the three decades of the Kurdistan rule by PUK and PDK.