Kurds consider ‘joint list’ for upcoming Iraqi elections

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s main ruling parties on Sunday called for the formation of a joint list to participate in the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary and provincial elections in May.

A delegation from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), headed by the party’s Vice-President Nechirvan Barzani, visited the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK) office in Sulaimani to discuss relations between both sides, international issues, and the upcoming elections in the Kurdistan Region as well as Iraq.

In a press conference following the meeting, Barzani emphasized the importance of maintaining unity as the Kurdistan Region deals with external and internal issues.

“We would like to see all the parties in Kurdistan jointly participate in the upcoming [Iraqi] elections,” Barzani stated.

Meanwhile, some of the Region’s major political parties held a meeting on Sunday—without the KDP’s participation—in the disputed city of Kirkuk to discuss the formation of a joint list to represent the province in the upcoming Iraqi elections.

Mawlud Rasool, Head of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) office in Kirkuk, told his party’s media that the meeting “reached a consensus on forming a joint list in the upcoming elections.”

He confirmed that the KDP delegation had not attended the meeting, noting that “we are aware the KDP does not have problems with the formation of a joint list.”

Rasool added that the attendees of the meeting agreed to name the joint list “Kirkuk Is Our Identity.”

He also said Kurdish political parties from other disputed Kurdish-populated areas are expected to be included in the joint list.

During a weekly press conference last month, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi informed the media that parliamentary and provincial elections would be held on May 12, earlier than the initial date which was set for May 15.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany