PUK leaders ready and support holding KRG election ‘on time’
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Leadership Council of the Patriotic Union says they are prepared for the parliamentary election which they expressed should be held on time; however, if the majority of Kurdistani parties follow proper mechanisms, the PUK would approve a postponement.
“Concerning the elections in Kurdistan, the PUK supports the holding of the elections on time,” stated its Leadership Council after a meeting that was presided over by acting PUK head Kosrat Rasul on Wednesday.
The PUK has “made all preparations” for the election, according to the statement; however, they are willing to support delaying elections if it is the will of the majority of political parties.
“If the majority of the political parties convey their message clearly through the electoral body to the presidency of the government, and the government officially conveys the message to the parliament, and if the parliament approves the postponement of the elections, the PUK will approve it too,” they added.
To date, the only party that has officially decided not to participate in the election is the Coalition for Democracy and Justice (CDJ). No party has officially called for the election to be postponed. The election body announced on Tuesday it was delaying the start official campaigning by a week to September 11, but not delaying the election date of September 30.
Because the PUK beat out the Change Movement (Gorran) in Iraq’s parliamentary election, and combined with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), already have a majority in parliament, there are concerns by breakaway parties of a two-party dominated government in Erbil.
“Balanced relations between the PUK and KDP and their joint agenda are important. It is very important to develop and enrich this agenda in a way to incorporate other Kurdish parties,” the statement added.
Delays in Iraqi government formation
The Republic of Iraq swore in members of its fourth parliament on Monday. After convening their first session no group had presented the speaker pro tem with the largest bloc containing at least 165 signatures. The Kurdish parties have chosen to remain neutral for the time being.
“[T]he supreme interests of our nation and formation of a non-sectarian government that is committed to the constitution and principle of real partnership underlie any agreement on our part,” stated the PUK.
Both the KDP and PUK performed well in the election on May 12, despite the loss of the disputed or Kurdistani areas in the October 16 events. Regional and international actors are pressuring Baghdad to form a government and the parliament shall reconvene its first by September 15 to select a speaker, which will begin government formation and indicate whether pro-US, pro-Iran, or other interests have prevailed.
“The Kurds need regional friendships as much as they need international support. That is why the PUK insists on balanced politics in the region and Iraq, unity among Kurdish parties in Kurdistan, the implementation of all the articles and sections of the constitution far from sectarianism and keeping a military rule in disputed areas,” the PUK reiterated.
The presence of Shiite paramilitias in the disputed areas has been a major complaint of the KRG, which administered and provided safety in the Article 140 area of Kirkuk during the ISIS conflict.
“Peshmerga, Asayesh and police forces of Kurdistan should manage the security of disputed areas jointly with the federal police. Kirkuk’s provincial council should convene soon to execute post-election legal duties. The issue of the budget, salaries, oil and gas should be fully resolved,” stated the PUK.
Kirkuk’s previous governor Najmaldin Karim, a longtime PUK member, was ousted following the events of October 16 and replaced with an acting Sunni Arab governor by incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi who says Kirkuk and other territories will not be a part of the government formation talks.