ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Prominent and outspoken Kurdistan Islamic Union (Komal) MP Soran Omar, has urged his party to become the opposition in Kurdistan’s parliament before they are forced into it, claiming the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) won’t allow them in the government.
“The Islamic Komal has known since the start that it won’t be invited into the future cabinet. That is why — following the nominee for the prime ministry by the KDP and the start of the second round of talks — it isn’t appropriate to wait for going into the government,” Soran Omar wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday.
Omar’s remarks come after months of speculation. While the KDP has announced that it wants the Change Movement (Gorran) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in the next Kurdistan Regional Government, it hasn’t said the same thing about Komal. Komal and KDP have not held formal talks.
Initially KRG’s previous government was termed a “broad-based” cabinet. Almost all parties participated in it. However, it quickly disintegrated and became ineffective, for many reasons, including some parties having one foot in the government and one foot in the opposition.
“The condition for the entry of others outside of KDP and PUK is for their silence in the parliament, media and civil activism,” claimed Omar.
A recent letter seen by Rudaw that was apparently sent by Gorran leader Omar Sayid Ali to his parliamentary bloc orders the MPs not to make negative comments against the KDP and its nominees for the posts of the PM and president. However, Rudaw is unable to confirm the authenticity of the letter.
“The Islamic Komal has known since the start that it won’t be invited into the future cabinet. That is why — following the nominee for the prime ministry by the KDP and the start of the second round of talks — it isn’t appropriate to wait for going into the government,” Soran Omar wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday.
Komal won seven seats in the election — one more than in 2018. That was because “being opposition to the corrupt and oppressive governance," claimed Omar.
Omar’s remarks come after months of speculation. While the KDP has announced that it wants the Change Movement (Gorran) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in the next Kurdistan Regional Government, it hasn’t said the same thing about Komal. Komal and KDP have not held formal talks.
Initially KRG’s previous government was termed a “broad-based” cabinet. Almost all parties participated in it. However, it quickly disintegrated and became ineffective, for many reasons, including some parties having one foot in the government and one foot in the opposition.
“The condition for the entry of others outside of KDP and PUK is for their silence in the parliament, media and civil activism,” claimed Omar.
A recent letter seen by Rudaw that was apparently sent by Gorran leader Omar Sayid Ali to his parliamentary bloc orders the MPs not to make negative comments against the KDP and its nominees for the posts of the PM and president. However, Rudaw is unable to confirm the authenticity of the letter.
“Komal has to make a decision and announce it is in the opposition against corruption, stealing, oppression, and violating human rights, that it supports reform, countering injustice and corruption,” Ali implored.
He claimed they faced the same pressures in 2009.
“You can’t become opposition only when you are denied participation in the government,” Ali added.
Komal has not made a final decision. It is closely allied with Gorran and has sought to enter into government together. Gorran, previously the second-largest party in parliament, slipped to third amid PUK and upstart New Generation gains.
So far, Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), Kurdistan Islamic Movement (IKM) and New Generation and the Kurdistan Communist Party have opted to become the opposition.
It was planned for KDP to visit parties in Sulaimani for second round of talks this week. However, the trip has not matriculated.
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