ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Advance voting for Norway’s upcoming parliamentary election began on Monday, with 22 parties competing for 169 seats across eight electoral districts. Among the candidates are seven Kurds hoping to make their mark on Norwegian politics.
The Kurdish candidates include Nigar Einayati running in Akershus county, Sahar Aydar in Oslo, Nawisa Falahzadeh in Hedmark, and Awin Saleh in Telemark. The latter four are representing the Red Party.
Additionally, Barham Azadi is running in Ostfold county, while Mani Hussaini and Evin Demirhan are standing in Oslo. These three candidates are members of the Socialist Left Party.
Speaking to Rudaw, Falahzadeh - born in Erbil and originally from Mahabad in Iran’s Kurdish region (Rojhelat) - outlined her vision stating, “My plan and goal is to work for a society where social differences are reduced and resolved.” She emphasized the importance of “discovering talents and creating work and education opportunities for every member of society.”
Falahzadeh also highlighted her party’s commitment to justice and democracy across the wider Kurdish region, noting, “We closely follow the situation in the region and support peace processes and respect for human rights.” She pledged to raise awareness about “Kurdish-related issues within my party, as well as to confront oppression against Kurds and other components.”
Red Party candidate Einayati echoed similar social priorities telling Rudaw that she strives for “permanent work for everyone, better economy and income for individuals in society.” She added that “wrong economic policies have had a direct impact on everyone’s lives,” and emphasized the need for “a better integration program for immigrants” to help them merge more successfully into Norwegian society.
Einayati also called for the “official recognition of the attacks on Halabja, Shingal [Sinjar], and Sardasht as genocide." The latter attacks are atrocities widely acknowledged as among the most severe committed against Kurdish and Yazidi communities.
On international matters, Einayati voiced support for recognizing the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) - the Kurdish-led de facto government in northeast Syria.
“The recognition of the Rojava administration as a self-governing region is important to us,” she stated.
The DAANES was established during the Syrian civil war by Kurdish-led groups and gained international prominence for its role in fighting the Islamic State (ISIS) through its de facto army, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). However, it remains unrecognized by the Syrian interim government in Damascus.
Einayati emphasized that international attention on Iran should go beyond its nuclear program to also address the rights of its diverse population and to push for the abolition of the death penalty.
Tehran has frequently faced criticism for its disproportionate use of capital punishment, particularly against ethnic minorities such as the Kurds - often based on vague charges and convictions resulting from unfair trials. In addition, the Iranian government is widely censured for its extensive human rights abuses, including the suppression of free expression, the violent repression of protests, and systemic discrimination against minorities and women.
In the last election in Norway in 2021, the Labour Party secured 48 seats, followed by the Conservative Party with 36, and the Centre Party with 28. The Socialist Left Party claimed 13 seats, while the Red Party earned 8.
According to the latest poll by Norwegian media, the Labour Party is projected to win 29 percent of the votes, while the Progress Party - a right-wing conservative party - is set to secure 21 percent and the Conservative Party 16 percent. The Socialist Left Party is also expected to win 7 percent and the Red Party 6 percent of the votes.
Early officially began on July 1st for those unable to vote during the regular early voting period or on election day. The main election day is scheduled for September 8.
Niyaz Mustafa contributed to this article.
