Barzani Calls on Kurdish Bloc in Baghdad to Unite For Changes in Elections Law

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani has called on all Kurdish MPs in the Iraqi parliament to set aside differences and unite behind an initiative to bring changes in the country’s elections law, including more seats for Shabaks, Yezidis and other minorities.

“President Barzani asked all Kurdish groups to put aside their differences of Kurdistan and act united in Baghdad,” said Muayad Tayib, spokesman of the Kurdish bloc in the Iraqi parliament, after meeting with the Kurdish president at the Pirmam summer resort on Saturday.

He told Rudaw that the Kurdish political parties have drafted a paper to present and debate with other Iraqi leaders in Baghdad.

According to Tayib the Kurds want Baghdad to include a number of clauses in the elections law, such as increasing the quota of the Shabak minority from one seat to two in the national assembly in Baghdad; giving the Yezidis five seats;  three seats for the Failis and one for Armenians; and a guarantee that the Christians will retain the five seats they currently hold.

Other proposed changes include giving unaccounted votes to the smaller blocs instead of to the bigger parties.

Iraq’s election law has been contested among Iraq’s Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish groups.

According to a statement from Barzani’s office, all Kurdish parties have agreed to push for their demands in Baghdad. It said that a “united committee representing all parties will be formed to deal with Baghdad on behalf of the Kurds.”

The proposal also calls for voting for the security and armed forces to take place only 48 hours prior to election day.

The current law requires a candidate for a political post to be 28 years or over, but the Kurds want the age requirement to be lowered.