Nechirvan Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region, is expected to announce a new election date after discussions with Kurdish political parties and the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) recently announced its participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections following changes to the voting mechanism, marking a shift from their previous boycott stance in March.
The dispute between the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) caused delays in the elections that were initially set for late 2022. Recent changes include Baghdad’s decision to allocate five seats for minorities across the three provinces in the Kurdistan Region after a court ruling deemed the previous minority quota seats unconstitutional.
The delay in announcing the new election date is attributed to the KDP’s push for a political agreement among Kurdish parties regarding post-election power distribution. Amidst tensions and opposition, the political landscape in the region remains polarized, hindering efforts to reach a consensus on the way forward.
The upcoming election poses a significant challenge for the Kurdish region, with historical disputes and allegations of manipulation in minority quotas by major parties like the KDP. The region is now at a pivotal moment as it navigates towards a democratic and inclusive electoral process.