Peregraf
The Iraqi Independent High Election Commission (IHEC) has officially approved the final results of the Kurdistan Regional parliamentary elections, held on October 20, 2024. Jumana al-Ghalai, the spokesperson for IHEC, confirmed to Peregraf that the Council of Commissioners approved the results during a meeting and forwarded them to the Kurdistan Region Presidency, along with the names of the elected parliament members.
The President of the Kurdistan Region is anticipated to summon the inaugural parliamentary session within ten days of the approval of the results, during which the members will take their oaths. Should the President neglect to convene this initial session, the parliament may assemble as soon as the 11th day after the results have been approved.
Before the results were finalized, all appeals regarding the elections were dismissed last week by the Judicial Elections Board of the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council. The appeals, submitted by candidates and political parties, alleged voter manipulation and fraud, but the IHEC reiterated that no misconduct or violations occurred during the electoral process.
Election Outcomes and Political Landscape
The elections, delayed by two years, saw the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) emerge as the dominant force, securing 39 seats. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) followed with 23 seats, while the New Generation Movement (NGM) claimed 15 seats. Other parties, including the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal), won seven and three seats, respectively.
However, the elections have been marred by controversy. Komal announced a complete boycott of the Kurdistan Parliament, with its leader, Ali Bapir, alleging widespread electoral fraud. During a press conference in Sulaymaniyah, Bapir described the voting process as "fabricated and extensively rigged."
Similar allegations were raised by other political groups, including the KIU, the People's Front (Baray Gal), and the National Stance Movement (Halwest). These parties have questioned the reliability of voting machines and the integrity of the electoral process.
IHEC's Stand on Allegations
The IHEC has firmly denied the allegations of fraud and vote tampering. Spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai described the claims as "completely unacceptable," emphasizing that no issues were reported during the ballot counting process.
The dismissal of appeals and finalization of results marks a significant step toward the formation of a new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The ruling KDP and PUK, along with other political players, will now focus on cabinet negotiations and addressing the region’s pressing political and economic challenges.