ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Thursday issued a decree setting the date for the region’s parliamentary election to October 1, 2022.
The decree tasks the parliament, government, and the electoral commission to start preparing for the electoral process, according to a statement from the presidency’s office.
The issuance of the decree comes after a presidential delegation earlier this month visited the political parties in the region as part of their efforts to reach a consensus ahead of the elections.
Several parties in the parliament have previously called for an amendment to the region’s electoral laws, asking that the region be divided into several electoral constituencies, however the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has on several occasions said that there is no need for an amendment.
A delegation from the KDP in January met with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) to discuss the same matter.
“The two sides agreed that Kurdistan’s parliamentary elections should be held on time, national preparations should be made, and that there should be a common understanding of the legal and political mechanism for holding the elections,” read a joint statement published by PUK Media following the meeting.
Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years, according to Article 8 of the Kurdistan Electoral Law.
The Kurdistan Region held its fifth parliamentary elections for the 111-seat legislature on September 30, 2018. Over one million people participated in the vote, recording a turnout of 59 percent.
The KDP was the kingmaker of the vote, gaining over six hundred thousand votes and securing 45 seats.
A minimum quota of 30 percent of the parliamentary seats are reserved for female MPs, while 11 seats are allocated for parties that represent minorities.
