Peregraf
The first session of the sixth term of the Kurdistan Regional Parliament is set to be held on Monday, December 2, 2024, following a decree issued by President Nechirvan Barzani. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Dilshad Shahab, the spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region Presidency, during a press conference.
"President Nechirvan Barzani issued a regional decree today to hold the first session of parliament on Monday at 1:00 PM," Shahab stated. He added that the presidency had received the official list of parliamentary winners from the Iraqi Independent High Election Commission (IHEC).
Shahab acknowledged the vacuum left by the absence of parliamentary sessions in recent months, expressing hope that "this gap will be filled during this week and next week."
Election Results and Political Dynamics
The session follows the IHEC’s official approval of the final results of the October 20, 2024, parliamentary elections, which were delayed by two years. The ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) emerged victorious, securing 39 seats. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) won 23 seats, while the New Generation Movement (NGM) claimed 15. Smaller parties, including the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal), secured seven and three seats, respectively.
The elections have not been without controversy. Komal has announced a complete boycott of the parliament, with its leader, Ali Bapir, alleging widespread electoral fraud. At a press conference in Sulaymaniyah, Bapir described the election as "fabricated and extensively rigged."
Similar allegations were echoed by other political groups, including the KIU, the People's Front (Baray Gal), and the National Stance Movement (Halwest), all of whom questioned the reliability of the voting process and the machines used.
IHEC has firmly rejected claims of irregularities. Spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai stated that the allegations were "completely unacceptable" and emphasized that no significant issues were reported during the ballot counting.
The official declaration of results paves the way for the formation of a new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The KDP, PUK, and other political parties are now expected to enter cabinet negotiations to address the region's political and economic challenges.
The first session of the new parliament is anticipated to set the tone for the next four years, amid both hopes for reform and lingering tensions over the disputed electoral process.