Divergent Opinions Within Halwest Movement on Joining the Upcoming Kurdistan Parliament

Peregraf

The Halwest Movement, known formally as the National Stance Movement (NSM), is grappling with internal divisions over whether to participate in the upcoming Kurdistan Parliament following recent election results.

The parliamentary elections in Iraqi Kurdistan, held on October 20, 2024, have been marred by allegations of fraud and vote manipulation. Opposition parties, including the Kurdistan Justice Group (KJG), also known as Komal, the People’s Front (Baray Gal), and Halwest, have claimed that the results were “manipulated to favor the ruling parties and the New Generation Movement.”

In response to these allegations, Komal has decided to boycott the Kurdistan Parliament. Ali Bapir, Komal’s leader, criticized the electoral process, stating it was compromised by “fraudulent activities” and emphasizing that the boycott aims to uphold the people’s will. He warned that undermining public trust could have serious consequences for the ruling authorities.

Within the Halwest movement, opinions are divided regarding participation in the forthcoming Kurdistan Parliament. A successful candidate from the party stated, "We should not hastily arrive at a conclusion." The spokesman for the movement indicated that "the ultimate decision will be determined during the board of directors' meeting of the Halwest Movement."

The current stance of the NSM contrasts with earlier declarations made by the movement's officials. Recently, decision-makers and spokespeople from the movement have expressed their refusal to attend "a fraudulent parliament," which has raised concerns among some leaders and prompted calls for a "collective" decision-making process.

The six-member board of directors of the Halwest Movement has yet to convene following the announcement of preliminary results by the Iraqi Independent High Election Commission (IHEC). There remains a lack of consensus within the party regarding participation in the forthcoming Kurdistan Parliament.

Badal Barwari, a former Badinan prisoner and the Halwest Movement's candidate in Duhok province, expressed a differing perspective. He previously stated, "If the Halwest Movement secures one seat, I will go to parliament."

Barwari, who is also a member of the board of directors of the Halwest Movement, emphasized to Peregraf, "We should refrain from making any decisions about joining the Kurdistan parliament at this time; we must wait for the IHEC to announce the final results."

In light of concerns described by Sardar Qadir, the spokesman for the Halwest Movement, as "divergent views," the leadership has come to an agreement to pursue a "collective" decision.

To alleviate internal tensions, Ali Hama Saleh, a key decision-maker within the Halwest Movement, removed a specific phrase from a Facebook post. On October 25, 2024, following a meeting with Ali Bapir, the leader of Komal, he had stated, "Rejecting the fake parliament is our common goal," but subsequently deleted the term "common goal."

Sardar Qadir informed Peregraf on Sunday, October 27, 2024, "We will take all necessary steps to gather evidence and file complaints. After the final election results are announced and our complaints are addressed by the IHEC, we will determine whether to join the Kurdistan parliament."

The decision regarding participation in the Kurdistan Parliament will be made by the movement's executive committee, which is scheduled to meet in the coming days after the final election results are released, according to the spokesman of the Halwest Movement.

Badal Barwari echoed this sentiment, stating to Peregraf, "Following the announcement of the final results, the Halwest Movement must come together to decide on participation in the Kurdistan parliament."

According to initial results released by the IHEC, the Halwest Movement secured four seats in the sixth term of the Kurdistan parliamentary elections. Nevertheless, the movement has disputed these results, alleging that "significant fraud occurred with the assistance of regional nations to benefit the three victorious parties, resulting in the theft of votes from the Halwest Movement."

The National Stance Movement (NSM) is a newly established party formed by several parliamentarians and political figures. On March 18, 2024, the NSM convened its inaugural congress. Ali Hamasaleh, a former member of the Kurdistan Parliament, was elected as the movement's decision-maker, effectively serving as the party's leader.