Four parties agree on alliance to represent Kurds in new Iraqi parliament

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The four Kurdish parties that contested the results of the May 12 national elections have agreed on Sunday to form an independent faction to participate in the new Iraqi government.

A meeting was held between the Islamic Union of Kurdistan (KIU), Gorran (Change) Movement, Islamic Group of Kurdistan (Komal), and Coalition for Democracy and Justice (CDJ) to discuss the groups’ goals and plans for the new parliament.

“All four parties have agreed to create a faction in the Iraqi parliament,” stated Kawa Mohammed, Gorran representative in the joint committee, during the presser.

He added that they had formed their alliance on the basis of “serving the public’s interests, cooperation, and defending the constitutional rights of the citizens of Kurdistan Region.”

Mohammed, speaking on behalf of the four new allies, affirmed that they would be engaged in efforts to create a joint administration in areas disputed between Baghdad and Erbil. He also claimed that they would address Baghdad’s monetary obligations to the Kurdistan Region.

The decision is the culmination of multiple post-election meetings that have been taking place between senior members of the parties.

Mohammed did not indicate whether they will be joining the PUK and the KDP in Baghdad. The two leading parties have stated in the past that they welcome any entity who pushes forward a “Kurdish-focused agenda” in the new parliament.

The four parties rejected the results of the election even after the partial manual recount of the votes which took place to address complaints of fraud and ballot-tampering.

The leading Kurdish parties, namely the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), have also agreed on a National (Kurdish) Project—the full details of which will be announced soon—to negotiate with Baghdad and form a government.

Editing by Nadia Riva