Remembering Kurdistan's First Parliamentary Elections

PUKMEDIA

Kurdistan Parliament building.

Today, 19th May 2025, marks the 33rd anniversary of the first parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region. With the support of the people of Kurdistan, the Kurdistan Front successfully liberated the majority of Iraqi Kurdistan from the oppressive Ba'ath regime.

The parliamentary elections and the election of the leader of the Kurdistan liberation movement took place through direct, secret ballot on 19th May 1992, with around one million voters participating, representing over three million citizens. The elections were conducted with the help of foreign observers and allies of the Kurdish people. To secure a seat in Parliament, each party needed to obtain 7% of the vote. 

Eager for freedom, voters enthusiastically went to the polls to voice their opinions and elect their representatives after years of injustice and oppression. Members of the Kurdistan National Council - Iraq were elected for their first electoral term on 19th May 1992. The Council comprised 105 members, with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) securing 50 seats, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) also obtaining 50 seats, and the Christian component securing 5 seats. The first session of the Kurdistan National Council – Iraq was held on 4th June 1992, and the first electoral term lasted until 4th June 2005. Dr Fuad Masum led the first government of the Kurdistan Region, which began its term on 5th July 1992.

The elections for the sixth term of the Kurdistan Parliament were held on 20th October 2024, with members of Parliament taking their oath of office on 2nd December 2024. However, no agreement has yet been reached on the election of a Speaker of Parliament or the formation of a new government in the Region. Negotiations are ongoing between the political parties, especially the PUK and the KDP. Progress has been made in these talks, with both sides working towards the formation of a strong, unified government focused on delivering services to all citizens of the region without discrimination—a goal that the PUK continues to emphasise.

On this anniversary, it is crucial to highlight the PUK’s ongoing commitment to free, fair, and transparent elections that accurately reflect the will and aspirations of the people of Kurdistan. The PUK insists that all parts of society must have genuine and equitable representation in Parliament, free from interference by any party.



PUKMEDIA