KDP leads in Iraqi Kurdish elections as everyone awaits final results

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has emerged as the leading political party in the recent Iraqi Kurdistan parliamentary elections, according to preliminary results released by Iraq's electoral commission. During a press conference in Baghdad, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced the preliminary outcomes of the elections held on 20 October in the Kurdistan Region.

The KDP secured 809,197 votes, placing it ahead of its long-standing rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which received 408,141 votes. The New Generation party, the region's largest opposition group, came third with 290,991 votes.

Ali Hama Salih, head of the National Stance Party in a press conference on Tuesday, rejected the preliminary results and claimed that his party was the main target of the voter fraud. He said they would take legal measures against IHEC.

With a voter turnout of 72 percent, this election was the first after an Iraqi court ruling reduced the Iraqi Kurdistan Region's legislature from 111 to 100 seats. The court had initially removed 11 seats reserved for ethnic and religious minorities, but later reinstated a five-seat quota for these groups within the new 100-seat parliament.

Although the final results are pending due to a review of complaints, no details have been provided about the nature of these grievances. IHEC emphasised that the preliminary results should not be considered conclusive until the final announcement after all, complaints have been addressed.

Several political parties and observers have rushed to claim that the elections were fraudulent. Munira Ali Abdul Aziz, a politburo member of the Islamic Movement in Iraq (IMK), rejected the election results in a post on her official Facebook page, describing the process as "pre-designed and fraudulent." The IMK failed to win any seats in the election.

Despite these allegations, IHEC has not yet responded to the specific fraud claims, stating that the final results will only be confirmed following a thorough review of all complaints.

Despite the overall smooth process, concerns over irregularities have emerged. Observers and political representatives raised alarms about breaches of voting regulations, particularly around the use of mobile phones inside polling stations.

Election results and voter turnout

According to IHEC, over two million people across the Kurdistan Region cast their votes. The Islamist parties, Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal) secured fourth and fifth places, respectively, followed by the National Stance Movement (Halwest), led by former MP Ali Hama Saleh. Lahur Talabany's People's Front (Baray Gal) performed poorly, gaining only 33,000 votes, while the once-powerful Change Movement (Gorran) continued its decline.

This election also allocated five seats to minority communities. The Assyrian, Chaldean, Syriac Christian, and Turkmen groups each secured one seat in Erbil and Sulaimani provinces, with Christians also receiving a seat in Duhok.

Ramy Noori Syawish, the current mayor of Ankawa, a Christian-majority district near Erbil, won the Christian quota seat in Erbil, defeating a candidate from the Iran-backed Babylon Movement. Muna Kahveci, a former deputy speaker of the Kurdistan parliament, secured the Turkmen quota seat in Erbil. In Sulaimani, Babylon Movement’s Dana Amanj Najeeb won the Christian seat, while Najdat Mohammed claimed the Turkmen seat. James Hassado took the Christian seat in Duhok.

US commends electoral process

The US embassy in Baghdad congratulated the Kurdistan Region on the smooth execution of the parliamentary elections, emphasising the importance of forming a new government to strengthen democratic institutions, advance human rights, and promote economic growth. US officials had monitored the voting process in polling stations across the region.

"We commend the people of Kurdistan for their commitment to democracy," read the embassy's statement, underscoring the significance of a new government for regional stability and development.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani echoed the US sentiments, praising the peaceful and competitive nature of the election. He urged political parties to swiftly form a new government that would prioritise stability, economic resilience, and the protection of citizens' rights.

"This election was a vital step in reinforcing the democratic journey of the Kurdistan people," Barzani said, thanking security forces, electoral authorities, and international observers for ensuring a smooth process.

The election took place amid a worsening economic crisis, intensified by the suspension of oil exports, a critical revenue stream for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Oil flows through the region's pipeline were halted by Turkey in March 2023, following an International Chamber of Commerce ruling that required Turkey to pay Baghdad $1.5 billion for unauthorised KRG oil exports.

The US State Department has urged Kurdish political parties to engage in dialogue and swiftly form a representative government that can address the economic crisis and ensure regional stability. Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel highlighted the importance of the high voter turnout and the absence of significant security incidents during the election.

As the newly elected parliament faces these economic and political challenges, attention is now focused on how the political forces in the Kurdistan Region will navigate these issues and secure stability and growth for the region within Iraq.