Kurdistan Parliament Awaits Parties' Agreement

Reports 12:24 PM - 2024-12-14

Kurdistan parliament.

The first session of the new Kurdistan parliament has remained open for 15 days, and the parties have yet to achieve an agreement on the formation of the new cabinet and the parliamentary presidency outside the parliament. A member of the previous parliamentary term states that the Parliament is still awaiting a compromise among the political parties.

Kurdistan Region's situation requires an effective parliament and government

Balambo Mohammed, a former member of the Kurdistan Parliament, stated to PUKMEDIA: "While there are no legal consequences if the parliament delays voting on the new cabinet after its first session, it is necessary for the parties to initiate negotiations and expedite the cabinet formation, as the regional circumstances necessitate an effective parliament and government in the Kurdistan Region without delay."

"Based on the outcomes of the seats won by the parties in the October 20, 2024, elections, no party is capable of independently forming a government, and none possesses an absolute majority of seats, thereby prolonging the establishment of the new cabinet compared to previous cabinets," Mohammed stated.

The election for the sixth term of the Kurdistan Parliament took place on October 20, 2024, where the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) secured 23 seats of the 100 parliamentary seats, while the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) secured 39 seats, the New Generation Movement secured 15 seats, the Kurdistan Islamic Union secured 7 seats, the Kurdistan Justice Group secured 3 seats, the National Stance Movement (Halwest Movement) secured 4 seats, the People's Front secured two seats, and each of the Gorran Movement and the Kurdistan Coalition secured one seat. Five seats have been allocated for the minority communities: 3 for Christians and 2 for Turkmen.

Neither PUK nor KDP can form a government alone

Mohammed asserted that other parties without sufficient votes have declared their non-participation in the government and transitioned to opposition. 

"Neither the PUK nor the KDP can independently establish a government; thus, these two parties must collaborate to form one," he said.

"Consequently, the KDP must recognise that it cannot dominate all significant government positions as it did in the previous cabinet," he added.

"The presidency can be mutually approved, and if there is a genuine intention for an accord, both parties must make compromises to rejuvenate the government and parliament," he remarked.

About 15 days have passed since the first session of the Kurdistan Parliament, which was held on December 2, 2024, and so far there is no compromise between the parties to form a new government in the Kurdistan Region and it is expected that the parties will take a long time to agree on the posts of the four presidencies.



PUKMEDIA