ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) on Monday revealed that two alliances, ten political parties and nearly 60 independent candidates will compete in the Kurdistan Region’s upcoming elections. The ruling party remains determined to boycott the process due to concerns over the way the polls are held.
The Kurdistan Region will hold parliamentary elections on June 10, two years after the originally chosen date which was then postponed several times due to disputes between political parties as well as pending legal cases related to the electoral process.
The IHEC on Monday assigned identification numbers to two alliances, ten political parties and 57 independent candidates taking part in the elections.
The ruling Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Change Movement (Gorran) as well as the main opposition party, the New Generation Movement, are among the parties racing in the polls.
The Kurdistan Region Alliance, consisting of the Kurdistan Social Democratic Party (KSDP), the Kurdistan Communist Party and the Kurdistan Toilers' Party, and the Sardam Alliance, composed of the Kurdistan Laborers' Party (PRK), the Democratic National Union of Kurdistan (YNDK) and the Kurdistan Conservative Party, are the only alliances taking part in the elections.
The two Islamic parties, the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal), will enter the race separately.
Several Turkmen and Christian parties have boycotted the process in protest of the elimination of 11 minority quota seats following a ruling by the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court.
The Iraqi Turkmen Front decided to participate in the polls despite its concerns over the court ruling.
Despite calls to reverse its decision, the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) stands by its decision to boycott the elections. The party claims the federal court’s ruling on the minority seats and the division of the Region into four constituencies are “unconstitutional.”
The KDP is the largest Kurdish party and the dominant force in both Erbil and Duhok provinces. Its withdrawal from the election has led many pundits to speculate that the vote may not be held as scheduled in June.
International allies and observers have warned against postponing the elections.
The Kurdistan Region will hold parliamentary elections on June 10, two years after the originally chosen date which was then postponed several times due to disputes between political parties as well as pending legal cases related to the electoral process.
The IHEC on Monday assigned identification numbers to two alliances, ten political parties and 57 independent candidates taking part in the elections.
The ruling Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Change Movement (Gorran) as well as the main opposition party, the New Generation Movement, are among the parties racing in the polls.
The Kurdistan Region Alliance, consisting of the Kurdistan Social Democratic Party (KSDP), the Kurdistan Communist Party and the Kurdistan Toilers' Party, and the Sardam Alliance, composed of the Kurdistan Laborers' Party (PRK), the Democratic National Union of Kurdistan (YNDK) and the Kurdistan Conservative Party, are the only alliances taking part in the elections.
The two Islamic parties, the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal), will enter the race separately.
Several Turkmen and Christian parties have boycotted the process in protest of the elimination of 11 minority quota seats following a ruling by the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court.
The Iraqi Turkmen Front decided to participate in the polls despite its concerns over the court ruling.
Despite calls to reverse its decision, the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) stands by its decision to boycott the elections. The party claims the federal court’s ruling on the minority seats and the division of the Region into four constituencies are “unconstitutional.”
The KDP is the largest Kurdish party and the dominant force in both Erbil and Duhok provinces. Its withdrawal from the election has led many pundits to speculate that the vote may not be held as scheduled in June.
International allies and observers have warned against postponing the elections.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment