KRG election: Campaign ends, time for voters to decide
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Campaigning for the Kurdistan Region parliamentary election ends Thursday at midnight. Parties are wrapping up their campaigns with well-honed messages to sway voters.
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The Islamic party Komal said it is time to root out injustice in order to protect the Kurdistan Region, its people, and their accomplishments.
"Those who have become billionaires at the expense of the ordinary people, how can they sleep? Economic oppression has to cease in this country. Classes and poverty need to cease to exist,” said party leader Ali Bapir at a campaign event in Erbil on Thursday.
Komal leader Ali Bapir speaks during a campaign rally in Erbil on Thursday. Photo: Payam TV
Komal has six seats in the outgoing parliament.
Read more: KRG Election 10 Questions: Komal understands voter ‘plight and suffering’
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Gorran wants to bring major change to the way the Kurdistan Region is governed. The party has campaigned to build a strong parliamentary system and institutionalize the oil sector and security forces.
"What was necessary to oppose injustice and oppression and pillage, we did in the street, parliament, and court, against an oppressive authority," Ali Hama Salih, head of Gorran's list, told supporters in Sulaimani. “Gorran growing in strength means Kurdistan's parliament growing stronger."
Ali Hama Saleh (L), head of Gorran’s electoral list, hits the campaign trail. Photo: Gorran
The party is the second largest in the outgoing parliament, but has faced internal strife this past year after the death of its founder Nawshirwan Mustafa.
Read more: Gorran calls for ‘radical change’ at campaign launch
KRG Election 10 Questions: Gorran ‘saved united Kurdistan’
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The PUK has focused on creating jobs and improving government services and transparency in its campaign to regain the hearts of voters. The party is looking to gain votes from supporters of weakened Sulaimani-based parties.
Autumn started this week, but "what I am seeing here is that the world has been imprinted with the colour of spring," said Qubad Talabani of the bright green of the PUK flag at a rally in Sulaimani.
Qubad Talabani, head of the PUK’s electoral list, gestures while speaking at a campaign rally in Sulaimani on Thursday. Photo: Shwan Mohammed/AFP
Read more: PUK kicks off campaign in Raniya with cries for ‘a new uprising’
KRG Election 10 Questions: Vote PUK for stability, says candidate
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The Toward Reform alliance wants to see a more active civil society in the Kurdistan Region and finalization of the region’s constitution.
"In that constitution, we will embed three sections. First, the dignity of you, the people. We want a constitution that gives proper place for Islam because we won't let go of the religion of 90 percent of this nation. We want a constitution, just like we dried up the roots of extremism through moderation, in which we will criminalize and prohibit treason so that no one else dares again to bring Baathist tanks and Hashd al-Shaabi's armored vehicles onto the land of the homeland," said Abubakr Haldani, a prominent member of KIU.
Supporters of the Toward Reform alliance wave flags of their list. Photo: Speda TV
Toward Reform is an alliance of two Islamic parties – the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and the Kurdistan Islamic Union (IKM) – which collectively have 11 seats in the outgoing parliament.
Read more: KRG Election 10 Questions: Towards Reform
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The KDP has not made promises of major projects or legislation, but is running on confidence in their record as backers of the independence referendum and the party that gets the job done.
"If KDP is strong, Kurdistan will be strong," said Nechirvan Barzani at a final rally on Thursday.
The KDP expects to increase its seats in the parliament to over 40, up from the current 38.
KDP supporters attend a final rally in Duhok on Thursday. Photo: Rudaw TV
Read more: KDP President Barzani vows ‘grassroots reforms’ at campaign launch
KRG Election 10 Questions: KDP says they get the job done
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New Generation is seeking to shake up the political scene, positioning itself as an alternative to the ruling elite and pledging to combat corruption.
“I will take the money back to the people. This is a golden chance to return Kurdistan to its people,” tweeted the party’s leader Shaswar Abdulwahid on Thursday.
Abdulwahid wants to be the next prime minister of the KRG. This is the first regional election the new party is contesting.
New Generation leader Shaswar Abdulwahid speaks at a campaign rally. Photo: Shaswar Abdulwahid
Read more: New Generation party urges voters to ‘take revenge’ on ‘failed’ establishment
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Early voting for security personnel will take place on Friday. The general vote is on Sunday. More than 3 million voters are eligible to cast a ballot.
KRG election explained – what’s at stake, what is promised
---
The Islamic party Komal said it is time to root out injustice in order to protect the Kurdistan Region, its people, and their accomplishments.
"Those who have become billionaires at the expense of the ordinary people, how can they sleep? Economic oppression has to cease in this country. Classes and poverty need to cease to exist,” said party leader Ali Bapir at a campaign event in Erbil on Thursday.
Komal leader Ali Bapir speaks during a campaign rally in Erbil on Thursday. Photo: Payam TV
Komal has six seats in the outgoing parliament.
Read more: KRG Election 10 Questions: Komal understands voter ‘plight and suffering’
---
Gorran wants to bring major change to the way the Kurdistan Region is governed. The party has campaigned to build a strong parliamentary system and institutionalize the oil sector and security forces.
"What was necessary to oppose injustice and oppression and pillage, we did in the street, parliament, and court, against an oppressive authority," Ali Hama Salih, head of Gorran's list, told supporters in Sulaimani. “Gorran growing in strength means Kurdistan's parliament growing stronger."
Ali Hama Saleh (L), head of Gorran’s electoral list, hits the campaign trail. Photo: Gorran
The party is the second largest in the outgoing parliament, but has faced internal strife this past year after the death of its founder Nawshirwan Mustafa.
Read more: Gorran calls for ‘radical change’ at campaign launch
KRG Election 10 Questions: Gorran ‘saved united Kurdistan’
---
The PUK has focused on creating jobs and improving government services and transparency in its campaign to regain the hearts of voters. The party is looking to gain votes from supporters of weakened Sulaimani-based parties.
Autumn started this week, but "what I am seeing here is that the world has been imprinted with the colour of spring," said Qubad Talabani of the bright green of the PUK flag at a rally in Sulaimani.
Qubad Talabani, head of the PUK’s electoral list, gestures while speaking at a campaign rally in Sulaimani on Thursday. Photo: Shwan Mohammed/AFP
Read more: PUK kicks off campaign in Raniya with cries for ‘a new uprising’
KRG Election 10 Questions: Vote PUK for stability, says candidate
The Toward Reform alliance wants to see a more active civil society in the Kurdistan Region and finalization of the region’s constitution.
"In that constitution, we will embed three sections. First, the dignity of you, the people. We want a constitution that gives proper place for Islam because we won't let go of the religion of 90 percent of this nation. We want a constitution, just like we dried up the roots of extremism through moderation, in which we will criminalize and prohibit treason so that no one else dares again to bring Baathist tanks and Hashd al-Shaabi's armored vehicles onto the land of the homeland," said Abubakr Haldani, a prominent member of KIU.
Supporters of the Toward Reform alliance wave flags of their list. Photo: Speda TV
Toward Reform is an alliance of two Islamic parties – the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and the Kurdistan Islamic Union (IKM) – which collectively have 11 seats in the outgoing parliament.
Read more: KRG Election 10 Questions: Towards Reform
---
The KDP has not made promises of major projects or legislation, but is running on confidence in their record as backers of the independence referendum and the party that gets the job done.
"If KDP is strong, Kurdistan will be strong," said Nechirvan Barzani at a final rally on Thursday.
The KDP expects to increase its seats in the parliament to over 40, up from the current 38.
KDP supporters attend a final rally in Duhok on Thursday. Photo: Rudaw TV
Read more: KDP President Barzani vows ‘grassroots reforms’ at campaign launch
KRG Election 10 Questions: KDP says they get the job done
---
New Generation is seeking to shake up the political scene, positioning itself as an alternative to the ruling elite and pledging to combat corruption.
“I will take the money back to the people. This is a golden chance to return Kurdistan to its people,” tweeted the party’s leader Shaswar Abdulwahid on Thursday.
Abdulwahid wants to be the next prime minister of the KRG. This is the first regional election the new party is contesting.
New Generation leader Shaswar Abdulwahid speaks at a campaign rally. Photo: Shaswar Abdulwahid
Read more: New Generation party urges voters to ‘take revenge’ on ‘failed’ establishment
---
Early voting for security personnel will take place on Friday. The general vote is on Sunday. More than 3 million voters are eligible to cast a ballot.
KRG election explained – what’s at stake, what is promised