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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq’s parliamentary election has shaken up Kurdish politics, handing out surprise wins and devastating blows.
Many expected the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the ruling party in the Kurdistan Region, would lose seats because of the financial crisis and the government’s failure to pay the salaries of its civil servants on time and in full for years. However, the party campaigned hard, returning to the disputed provinces and running candidates in some southern provinces, hoping to gain a few more seats than the 25 it won in 2018.
According to official preliminary results, the KDP exceeded its expectations and won 32 seats. Masoud Barzani, KDP leader, published a congratulatory message late Monday, saying he hopes Kurdish parties will be united and “work together for their mutual objective and the high interests of Kurdistan.”
The party, however, received fewer votes in total and lost two seats in its stronghold Duhok.
The low turnout saved the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), according to researcher Mera J. Bakr.
“What is very important to look at is the amount of votes these parties have lost. [The] KDP has lost votes even in Duhok. What has saved them is the fact that people did not go to vote. If people go to the polls like they did in 2013 and vote against [the] KDP and PUK, they will face an existential threat,” he said.
The opposition party New Generation won three seats in 2018, its first run in Iraqi elections. It tripled that result in this election, taking five seats in Sulaimani and three in Erbil. Its candidate in Kirkuk, Omed Hama, a former reporter for the party-affiliated NRT TV station, also won a seat.
“The New Generation is heralding a new era in Iraqi and Kurdish politics,” tweeted party leader Shaswar Abdulwahid.
New Generation is on the road to replacing the Change Movement (Gorran) as the third largest party in the Kurdistan Region, according to Bakr.
Gorran was founded in 2009 as an opposition party by a group who broke away from the PUK and stormed into the Kurdistan Region parliament with 25 seats that same year. Gorran was able to mobilize the public and hold nationwide protests, but that has changed. Its participation in the current cabinet of the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) stopped it from criticizing the government and its alliance with the PUK for the Iraqi election angered many supporters.
The party failed to win any seats this election and its governing body said they take responsibility for the defeat and promised a thorough review and radical changes.
The PUK went into the election divided after a power struggle between its co-chairs Bafel Talabani and Lahur Talabany this summer. Lahur Talabany was forced out of the leadership. The PUK won 17 seats, according to official preliminary results.
Barham Salih, PUK leadership member and president of Iraq, spoke on the phone with Qubad Talabani, head of the PUK-Gorran coalition, and the two described the elections as “successful,” according to media affiliated with the party.
The PUK alleged fraud took place in Erbil province, where it won one seat, saying the ballot boxes were “tampered with.” The Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal) also rejected the results in Erbil.
The Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) won four seats, doubling its representation in the Iraqi parliament, thanks to a strong showing in Duhok.
Komal won just a single seat on Sunday; it had two in the last session parliament which was dissolved days before elections. The party recently dropped the word Islamic from its name in a bid to reach more people.
Komal spokesperson Mohammed Hakim apologized to party members and supporters for the defeat. Speaking on behalf of the party leadership, Hakim said the party was sorry “for failing to gain projected results.” He added that the party will prepare for a “new program” starting from Tuesday.
Additional reporting by Dilan Sirwan
Many expected the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the ruling party in the Kurdistan Region, would lose seats because of the financial crisis and the government’s failure to pay the salaries of its civil servants on time and in full for years. However, the party campaigned hard, returning to the disputed provinces and running candidates in some southern provinces, hoping to gain a few more seats than the 25 it won in 2018.
According to official preliminary results, the KDP exceeded its expectations and won 32 seats. Masoud Barzani, KDP leader, published a congratulatory message late Monday, saying he hopes Kurdish parties will be united and “work together for their mutual objective and the high interests of Kurdistan.”
The party, however, received fewer votes in total and lost two seats in its stronghold Duhok.
The low turnout saved the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), according to researcher Mera J. Bakr.
“What is very important to look at is the amount of votes these parties have lost. [The] KDP has lost votes even in Duhok. What has saved them is the fact that people did not go to vote. If people go to the polls like they did in 2013 and vote against [the] KDP and PUK, they will face an existential threat,” he said.
The opposition party New Generation won three seats in 2018, its first run in Iraqi elections. It tripled that result in this election, taking five seats in Sulaimani and three in Erbil. Its candidate in Kirkuk, Omed Hama, a former reporter for the party-affiliated NRT TV station, also won a seat.
“The New Generation is heralding a new era in Iraqi and Kurdish politics,” tweeted party leader Shaswar Abdulwahid.
New Generation is on the road to replacing the Change Movement (Gorran) as the third largest party in the Kurdistan Region, according to Bakr.
Gorran was founded in 2009 as an opposition party by a group who broke away from the PUK and stormed into the Kurdistan Region parliament with 25 seats that same year. Gorran was able to mobilize the public and hold nationwide protests, but that has changed. Its participation in the current cabinet of the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) stopped it from criticizing the government and its alliance with the PUK for the Iraqi election angered many supporters.
The party failed to win any seats this election and its governing body said they take responsibility for the defeat and promised a thorough review and radical changes.
The PUK went into the election divided after a power struggle between its co-chairs Bafel Talabani and Lahur Talabany this summer. Lahur Talabany was forced out of the leadership. The PUK won 17 seats, according to official preliminary results.
Barham Salih, PUK leadership member and president of Iraq, spoke on the phone with Qubad Talabani, head of the PUK-Gorran coalition, and the two described the elections as “successful,” according to media affiliated with the party.
The PUK alleged fraud took place in Erbil province, where it won one seat, saying the ballot boxes were “tampered with.” The Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal) also rejected the results in Erbil.
The Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) won four seats, doubling its representation in the Iraqi parliament, thanks to a strong showing in Duhok.
Komal won just a single seat on Sunday; it had two in the last session parliament which was dissolved days before elections. The party recently dropped the word Islamic from its name in a bid to reach more people.
Komal spokesperson Mohammed Hakim apologized to party members and supporters for the defeat. Speaking on behalf of the party leadership, Hakim said the party was sorry “for failing to gain projected results.” He added that the party will prepare for a “new program” starting from Tuesday.
Additional reporting by Dilan Sirwan
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