KDP seeks talks with Kurdish parties before sending delegation to Baghdad
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Before sending a delegation to Baghdad to discuss Kurdish representation in the next Iraqi government, the politburo of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) said it would first like to hold talks with other Kurdish parties to agree a united position.
A meeting of the KDP politburo took place on Sunday, headed by KDP leader Masoud Barzani. The KDP said it believes Kurdish unity can protect Kurdistan’s constitutional rights.
“For this purpose, we will start talks with the other parties of Kurdistan. We hope to form a united podium,” read a statement from the KDP politburo.
“We will start discussions with Iraqi parties to resolve all the issues. Through cooperation and partnership, we can certainly obtain more achievements for Kurdistan and all of Iraqis. For this purpose, the meeting decided to send a high delegation to Baghdad to discuss the formation of the future Iraqi government,” the statement added.
The KDP also criticized the Iraqi electoral commission for allegedly pressuring the commission’s offices in Erbil and Duhok, both KDP strongholds. It accused some commission members of failing to remain politically neutral in a bid to cut KDP votes.
The party also criticized the Iraqi election commission for allegedly failing to count the votes of many Yezidis, calling it an “Anfal” of Yezidi votes.
“Intentionally not counting a considerable number of ballot boxes of the IDP camps of Shingal in Duhok, most of whom Kurdish Yazidi sisters and brother, survivors of Daesh’s Anfal, is a type of Anfal of Yazidi votes,” the KDP laments.
It called on the commission to perform a thorough review to prevent the votes from going uncounted.
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) claims the KDP hid Yezidi ballot boxes for days without allowing anyone to have access to them, accusing the KDP of voter fraud.
The KDP won the most seats of any Kurdish party in the Iraqi parliament, obtaining 25.
Both the KDP and PUK have been accused of voter fraud. Both parties accuse each other of rigging ballots in their own strongholds.
A meeting of the KDP politburo took place on Sunday, headed by KDP leader Masoud Barzani. The KDP said it believes Kurdish unity can protect Kurdistan’s constitutional rights.
“For this purpose, we will start talks with the other parties of Kurdistan. We hope to form a united podium,” read a statement from the KDP politburo.
“We will start discussions with Iraqi parties to resolve all the issues. Through cooperation and partnership, we can certainly obtain more achievements for Kurdistan and all of Iraqis. For this purpose, the meeting decided to send a high delegation to Baghdad to discuss the formation of the future Iraqi government,” the statement added.
The KDP also criticized the Iraqi electoral commission for allegedly pressuring the commission’s offices in Erbil and Duhok, both KDP strongholds. It accused some commission members of failing to remain politically neutral in a bid to cut KDP votes.
The party also criticized the Iraqi election commission for allegedly failing to count the votes of many Yezidis, calling it an “Anfal” of Yezidi votes.
“Intentionally not counting a considerable number of ballot boxes of the IDP camps of Shingal in Duhok, most of whom Kurdish Yazidi sisters and brother, survivors of Daesh’s Anfal, is a type of Anfal of Yazidi votes,” the KDP laments.
It called on the commission to perform a thorough review to prevent the votes from going uncounted.
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) claims the KDP hid Yezidi ballot boxes for days without allowing anyone to have access to them, accusing the KDP of voter fraud.
The KDP won the most seats of any Kurdish party in the Iraqi parliament, obtaining 25.
Both the KDP and PUK have been accused of voter fraud. Both parties accuse each other of rigging ballots in their own strongholds.