PUK Surpasses Kurdish Parties in Provincial Council Elections

Reports 02:13 PM - 2023-12-29

PUK and PUK's coalitions' logos.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) received the most votes among the Kurdish parties in the disputed regions, receiving 247,777 votes in the Iraqi provincial council elections held in Kirkuk, Nineveh, Salah ad Din, and Diyala provinces. As a result, the PUK won nine seats in those provinces' provincial councils. "Collectively, we will strive for even greater success," the supervisor of the PUK's Elections Bureau said of the party's future achievements.

The PUK is moving towards greater victory

"This significant triumph, accomplished under the astute guidance of President Bafel Talabani and the collective endeavours of us all, is a momentous sovereignty and a source of immense pride for our PUK and our entire periphery," said Rizgar Haji Hama, Supervisor of the PUK's Elections Bureau, in honour of the PUK's triumph and the disclosure of the Iraqi provincial council election outcomes by the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). This accomplishment is dedicated to President Mam Jalal and the brave martyrs."

"Collectively, we will progress toward a more significant victory in Kurdistan's parliamentary elections," he said.

The PUK is the number one force in Kirkuk

The Kirkuk is Our Strength & Will Coalition, comprised of the PUK and the Kurdistan Communist Party, emerged as the province's dominant political alliance. It received 157,639 votes, accounting for 43% of all votes cast in the province, and was elected to five seats on Kirkuk's provincial council.

The PUK secured two seats in Nineveh

The Nineveh People's Coalition received 50,606 votes, securing two seats on Nineveh's provincial council.

PUK secures one seat in Diyala

The PUK list received 286,480 votes in Diyala province, earning one seat on Diyala's provincial council.

One PUK candidate won in Salah ad Din

Yasin Mohammed Ali Dawoodi, the PUK's sole candidate in Salah ad Din, won with 10,884 votes, earning a seat in Salah ad Din's provincial council.

The PUK won seats in all four provinces

The PUK was the only Kurdish party to win seats in all four disputed provinces. The party won seats in Kirkuk, Nineveh, Diyala, and Salah ad Din provincial councils. The PUK became the most popular party in Kirkuk after receiving the most votes in the provincial council elections.

On December 16 and 18, 2023, Iraqi provincial council elections were held in 15 Iraqi provinces. The total number of voters in both general and special voting-security forces and IDPs was 16,158,788. On Thursday, December 28, 2023, the IHEC announced the election results. Within the next three days, political parties participating in the elections will be able to file appeals.

Note* The former Iraqi Ba'ath regime made significant efforts to Arabize all residents of Diyala, Kirkuk, Nineveh, and Salah ad Din, resulting in ongoing territorial disputes between Erbil and Baghdad. Even though Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution was written in part to address the issue, the legislation has yet to be implemented. The PUK's call is an attempt to increase the number of Kurds voting in these areas, giving the Kurds more influence and benefiting other communities. 

 

 

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