ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan region,— Iraqi Kurdistan region’s parliamentary elections, originally slated for October 2022, are now set for October 20 this year, according to an announcement by the regional presidency on Wednesday. The decision comes after multiple delays and political disputes that postponed the vote.
The elections to select 100 legislators for the northern Kurdish region’s parliament faced setbacks, with the most recent planned for earlier this month failing to materialize.
“The parliamentary elections in Iraq’s Kurdistan will take place on October 20,” stated a decree read by regional President Nechirvan Barzani’s spokesman Dilshad Shahab in a televised address.
Earlier rulings, including one by the federal court, reduced the Kurdish parliament’s seats from 111 to 100, eliminating reserved positions for Turkmen and Christian minorities.
Originally delayed due to an “illegal” extension of the incumbent parliament’s term, the polling date was rescheduled to November 18, 2023. Subsequently, a new date of February 25, 2024, was announced pending a court decision on electoral laws.
In 2022, Kurdish political figures, including Rewaz Fayaq from the PUK party, condemned the parliament’s term extension as unlawful.
As of March 2024, KDP-led Kurdish authorities postponed the elections until June 10, 2024, sparking opposition from the PUK and other opposition parties.
Initially boycotting the elections and not fielding candidates, the KDP reversed its stance after the judiciary reinstated reserved seats for minorities.
Observers believe that Barzani’s KDP is worried about losing popularity among the people and feels weakened, which is why it wants to delay the election.
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), another influential party in Iraqi Kurdistan, consistently opposed election delays.
Since gaining autonomy in 1991, the Kurdistan region has been viewed as a stable area conducive to foreign investment in Iraq. However, critics, including activists and opposition members, allege corruption, suppression of dissent, and arbitrary arrests within the region.
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