The PUK and other parties have not changed their stance, the KDP did

Reports 05:48 PM - 2023-05-01

Voting.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and all other political parties in the Kurdistan Region, except for the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), agree that free and fair elections should be held, fraud should be prevented, and parties should receive their fair share of votes. However, the KDP has taken significant steps to disrupt the process.

Previously, the PUK and the KDP met and agreed on several issues, but the KDP's failure to uphold its commitments shows that it is against the elections.

The meetings have been suspended because of the KDP

Stran Abdullah, a member of the PUK's Political Bureau, told PUKMEDIA: "The KDP has diminished the enthusiasm of PUK and KDP meetings on the election issue." If our disagreements are over elections, the PUK has taken the required steps and requested a meeting to resolve the problem."

Abdullah stated: "The PUK has not upgraded its demands; it is the KDP that has not kept its word, and we do not oppose any initiative to resolve the issues."

"The minority issue is in the KDP's interest, so it does not want to negotiate it, and the PUK will not go to the polls knowing that the KDP has secured 11 seats," he continued. "The PUK is not the cause of the problems but has always taken the initiative to resolve them."

Imposing the will of one party is rejected

Other parties than the KDP underscore their position on the election issue and oppose the imposition of one party's will on the procedure.

Yasin Hama Ali, the supervisor of the electoral chamber of the Gorran Movement, stated to PUKMEDIA: "We are in favor of all political processes, including elections, being held on time and without delay; however, past disagreements between parties have affected and delayed this process."

"The electoral issue has a national dimension and should be agreed upon by the parties, who have previously settled their disagreements on the matters at issue," he continued. "The will of a party that previously agreed with other parties but now regrets it cannot be imposed on the process."

The PUK wants fair elections

The PUK desires an election in which the rights of voters and parties are protected, in contrast to those parties that seek only their exclusive interests and tolerate an election where fraud is possible.

Hakim Sabir Ismail, a member of the PUK Leadership Council, told PUKMEDIA: "The PUK is ready for elections and wants fair elections that protect the rights of voters, candidates, and parties. This will be accomplished by amending the electoral law, reactivating the commission, and utilizing the Iraqi voter registration list. However, some parties want to hold elections under the old law at random to increase the chances of fraud.

Ismail stated: "The PUK considers the people's interests to be its own, so it insists on holding fair elections so voters can directly elect their representatives and form a government in a parliament elected by the votes of genuine voters."

"Parties that put party interests ahead of the interests of the people want to hold elections with a voter registration list that contains more voters than the Iraqi voter registration list and without identification and fingerprinting devices so they can commit fraud," he added.

Previously, the PUK, Gorran Movement, Kurdistan Islamic Union, and Kurdistan Justice Group convened to discuss the upcoming elections in the Kurdistan Region. They agreed that elections should be held after amending the electoral law, reactivating the electoral commission, and clearing the voter registration list; however, the KDP is delaying the process.

The PUK has met with the political parties in the Kurdistan Region to discuss the issue of holding elections in the Kurdistan Region, and all parties, except the KDP, agree that elections should go ahead and that the delay of the process is no longer acceptable. However, some parties wish to undermine democracy in the Kurdistan Region.
 


PUKMEDIA