Kurdistan's Political Crisis: Seven Parties Calls for Re-Election Following Fraud Allegations

Peregraf

Seven political parties convened in Sulaymaniyah to deliberate on the outcomes of the Kurdistan parliamentary elections, reaching a consensus on five key points. The primary demand articulated by these parties is the "cancellation of the Kurdistan parliamentary election results and the necessity for a re-election." Additionally, they advocate for modifications to the electronic voting system for future elections.

The electoral committees of various political parties, such as the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal), the National Movement (Halwest), the People's Front (Baray Gal), the Kurdistan Islamic Union (Yakgirtu), the Gorran Movement, the Kurdistan Islamic Movement (Bzutnawa), and the Kurdistan Islamic Relations, gathered at the Komal political council's headquarters in Sulaymaniyah.

Following their discussions, the parties asserted that "serious fraud" had occurred and provided evidence to support their claims in their appeals. They collectively agreed on the following five points:

1. These parties declare that fraud has taken place in the Kurdistan parliamentary elections, and the current situation does not accurately represent the voters' will in the Kurdistan Region.
2. All parties have submitted appeals regarding the election results and anticipate a thorough investigation by the Electoral Judiciary, along with appropriate legal actions.
3. Our collaboration will persist concerning all electoral matters.
4. The fraud is attributed to the electronic voting system; therefore, we demand reforms to this system, including the removal of the Picos device from ballot boxes, allowing voters to manually deposit their ballots. The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) must ensure that the votes cast remain unchanged.
5. We urge the Election Judiciary to officially annul the Kurdistan parliamentary elections, reject the results, and conduct re-elections in the Kurdistan Region.

The parliamentary elections recently conducted in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on October 20, 2024, have ignited considerable controversy, with opposition parties, excluding the New Generation Movement (NGM), alleging widespread electoral fraud.

Historically, the Kurdistan Region has experienced contentious electoral processes, predominantly influenced by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). These parties have frequently faced accusations of manipulating electoral results to sustain their dominance. The 2024 elections were similarly contentious, with opposition factions asserting that the results were manipulated to benefit the ruling parties and the NGM. They contend that the electronic voting system was compromised, resulting in significant discrepancies in the reported vote totals.

In a significant development following the elections, Komal declared a complete boycott of the Kurdistan Parliament, citing alleged electoral fraud as the justification for their withdrawal. Ali Bapir, the leader of Komal, expressed that the party would refrain from participating in a parliament they consider illegitimate, stressing that the electoral process was tainted by fraudulent activities. This decision reflects the party's discontent with the electoral process and their insistence on the necessity for re-elections.

The calls for re-elections and reforms to the voting system underscore the persistent challenges in achieving transparent and equitable elections within the Kurdistan Region. The outcomes of the appeals and the reactions from the Electoral Judiciary will be pivotal in shaping the future political dynamics of the Kurdistan region.