SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region—Leaders of Kurdistan Region’s three main Islamic parties gathered in Sulaimani city on Saturday to discuss a joint platform of political work, especially ahead of next year’s general elections.
Salahaddin Bahaddin of the Islamic Union (KIU), Ali Bapir of Islamic League (Komal) and Irfan Abdulaziz of the Islamic Movement (IMK) met to discuss the possibility of forming a united front, party officials told Rudaw.
The idea of the three groups coming under one umbrella especially to increase their votes in next year’s elections and subsequently their seats in parliament has been mentioned on various occasions in recent months.
“All three parties have prepared projects on joint work which may in the end unite these parties or perhaps there will only be a decision on ballot,” IMK official, Shwan Qaladizayi told Rudaw.
This is the second such meeting between the leaders and senior officials of these three Islamic parties, the first being a similar gathering last July.
Researcher and expert on Islamic parties in Kurdistan, Abdullah Reshawi believes that this is an effort by these Islamic parties to offer their people something new.
“Basically, this is to offer their members and supporters a new version of themselves,” Reshawi told Rudaw TV. “They know that their old versions have expired and disappointed their fan base.”
Reshawi believes that what makes this gathering possible is the fading of differences between these Islamic parties, especially between the KIU and Komal “though there is always a clique of conservatives in each party.”
“The Islamic parties have realized that unless they create a strong front they will just dissolve in Kurdistan Region’s polarized politics without any influence,” Reshawi explained.
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