In KDP victory statement, Barzani calls for strong Kurdish presence in Iraqi government

Nechirvan Barzani, deputy head of the leading Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) on Saturday congratulated party followers for their victory in national elections and called for a joint action-plan among the Kurdistan Region’s parties for participation in the next Iraqi government.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Nechirvan Barzani, deputy head of the leading Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) on Saturday congratulated party followers for their victory in national elections and called for a joint action-plan among the Kurdistan Region’s parties for participation in the next Iraqi government.

Late Friday night, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced the final results of the parliamentary election, with the KDP winning in the Kurdistan Region and, having won 25 seats, becoming the fifth largest parliamentary bloc in the country.

“I thank all the people of the Kurdistan Region for their high-level of [election] participation," which he noted was greater than the average in other provinces, "and for exercising their democratic right.”

Barzani, who is also the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, mentioned that the winning KDP candidates would sincerely defend the interests of all people in the Kurdistan Region and defend the rights of all Iraqi people in the Iraqi Parliament.

The electoral process was successfully completed in the Kurdistan Region, he added, after ‘repelling’ the recent attacks and attempts to marginalize the leadership of the Kurdistan Region, referring to events following the Kurdistan Region's September independence referendum.

“We ask all the parties to put aside local tensions for the sake of achieving the constitutional rights of Kurdistan's people."

He asked all Kurdish parties “to be ready for talks to make a joint plan for a strong participation of Kurdistan in the next Iraqi government. The KDP is ready for all kinds of talks and joint plans.”

Barzani said he hoped that the result of the elections will be a new parliament and government of Iraq that implements all the articles of the constitution, provide services to people, and provide the constitutional rights of all Iraqi people.

He also hoped that the election's results will be a new beginning to create a national government that reflects all the components of Iraq.

“We are ready for a constructive talk on the basis of the constitution to form a government that is a union and based on agreement, and partnership to put the protection of the interests of all Iraqi components as a basis for governing Iraq," he continued.

"This way, we can resolve all the issues between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government of Iraq."

Editing by John J. Catherine