KDP Drops Bombshell: PUK Officials Linked to Election Rigging
"They shamelessly disrespect the martyred Peshmerga, their proud families, and the voters of the Kurdistan Region," the statement claimed. "They seek to undermine the democratic process through conspiracy and fraud."
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – On Tuesday, the Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) High Committee overseeing the upcoming sixth session of the Kurdistan Parliament elections released a statement accusing Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leaders of attempting to manipulate the electoral process.
The statement expressed the KDP's concerns regarding electoral integrity, stating: "As you know, we at the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) have raised concerns about the electoral process following the decisions of Iraq’s Federal Court. Initially, we lacked substantial evidence, but now we confirm our concerns with concrete proof."
The KDP's High Committee revealed what it claims to be a recorded telephone conversation between PUK leaders Bafel Talabani and Qubad Talabani. According to the KDP, this recording exposes the "true intentions" of the PUK leadership, specifically targeting the sons of the late Mam Jalal Talabani. The statement accuses Bafel and Qubad of plotting against Kurdistan's democratic process, alleging that they are "conspiring to commit electoral fraud to serve their own interests."
"They shamelessly disrespect the martyred Peshmerga, their proud families, and the voters of the Kurdistan Region," the statement claimed. "They seek to undermine the democratic process through conspiracy and fraud."
The KDP High Committee urged the Iraqi federal authorities, Kurdistan citizens, political parties, Peshmerga forces, and the international community to recognize what it described as "the true faces of Bafel and Qubad."
The statement continued, "These two political newcomers have done little for the Kurdish cause and have consistently insulted or marginalized activists within their own party. Through their conspiracies and deals, they work against the Kurdistan Region and seek to tarnish its democratic reputation."
The accusations add further tension to the already fraught political landscape in the Kurdistan Region as the upcoming parliamentary elections draw closer.
Both the KDP and PUK, historically rival parties, have seen strained relations in recent years, with accusations and counter-accusations frequently exchanged.
No official response has yet been issued by the PUK regarding these claims.