ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — An official with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) says Iraqi parties are trying to win KDP endorsements ahead of elections. He added they have entered talks, but have certain standards.
"Currently large numbers of Iraqi factions, publicly and secretly, are reaching out to the Kurdistan Democratic Party because they know that out of the 62 seats of Kurds in Iraq, in the Iraqi parliament, KDP's faction will be the largest faction. That is why, in political and mathematical terms, they are dealing with KDP,” Hemin Hawrami, a senior assistant to KRG’s former president and a member of the KDP Leadership Council member, told Rudaw.
Hawrami did not reveal what lists or individuals have approached the KDP.
Hawrami contended that the political map of Iraq will drastically change as the Shiite and Sunnis are very much divided; it is within this division that the role of Kurdistan and KDP will come to bear.
"It is here — the role of Kurdistan generally — and within Kurds, the role of Kurdistan Democratic Party. In English, they call it kingmaker, the ones who make the kings,” said Hawrami.
Hawrami revealed that KDP has entered into "detailed and extensive" talks with unspecified political parties concerning 140 Article (disputed territories) including Kirkuk, KRG's budget, Peshmerga, and the return of IDPs. They also have focused on the willingness and readiness of these parties to hold talks for self-determination for the people of Kurdistan and building a true partnership.
He said that the KDP wanted all Kurdish parties to boycott Iraqi parliamentary elections and the political process following the events of October 16, but that other parties were not willing to do so.
The KDP has said it is boycotting elections Kirkuk. Hawrami revealed the party has plans for KDP’s votes not to go to waste in Kirkuk.
There have been rumors that KDP has agreed with the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) for the supporters of KDP to vote for KIU.
Mohammed Khurshid, head of KDP’s office in Kirkuk, denied the rumors to Rudaw.
Shakhawan Abdullah, a KDP MP, and Rawand Mala Mahmoud, the deputy head of PUK’s office in Kirkuk, traded accusations on Rudaw TV for the situation of Kirkuk with both disagreeing over KDP’s lack of participation.
KRG PM Nechirvan Barzani, who is also the deputy head of KDP, lamented that the KDP is not being allowed to operate in the disputed territories during the first day of campaigning on Sunday.
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