Coverage
Politics

U.S., France, Britain Hail Kurdistan Elections. in Addition to UN, EU

The US “congratulates the people of the Kurdistan Region and all political parties on the successful completion” of the elections, the ambassador said, while France’s ambassador said, “This vote represents an important political step for the Autonomous Region and Iraq as a whole.”

From left to right are the flags of Great Britain, France, and the United States. (Photo: Kurdistan24)
From left to right are the flags of Great Britain, France, and the United States. (Photo: Kurdistan24)
Kurdistan US Ambassador to Iraq Ambassador Alina L. Romanowski French Ambassador Patrick Durel British Consulate General in Erbil KRG Parliamentary Elections

WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan 24) The U.S., France, and Britain all welcomed the holding of the Kurdish parliamentary elections. Their bilateral endorsements came as two multilateral organizations, the United Nations and the European Union, also hailed the vote. 

Read More: UN Envoy: Kurdistan Elections Demonstrate Region's Civility

Read More: EU Mission in Iraq welcomes KRG Parliamentary elections, urges swift government formation

U.S. Welcomes Kurdish Elections

“The United States congratulates the people of the Kurdistan Region and all political parties on the successful completion of the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament elections,” the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, said in a statement released by the embassy on Monday. 

Staff from the US Mission Iraq observed the elections “at polling sites across the region” she explained, and “we commend the people of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region for their commitment to democracy.”

She noted that the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) had reported some “challenges with fingerprint verification” during the vote, and she encouraged “IHEC to address this issue” ahead of the next elections.

Eight political parties competed in the vote, and according to preliminary results, the leading party, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), fell slightly short of a majority, winning 48% of the vote. 

Read More: Detailed Results: Kurdistan Parliament Elections show more than 70% overall turnout across all districts

Thus, unless the final results produce a change, the KDP will have to form a coalition with one of the seven other parties. However, that should not be a major issue, as it requires only a relatively small number of votes to cross the 50% threshold.

Romanowski called for the formation of a new government “without delay,” as she added, “We also call on all political parties and security forces to respect the media and civil society’s vital role in the democratic process.”

“The seating of a new government will allow the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to strengthen its democratic institutions, advance human rights, promote economic development, and enhance the Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s resiliency as part of a secure, stable, and sovereign Iraq,” she concluded.

France Welcomes Kurdish Elections

In the 1980s, the wife of the French President, Francois Mitterrand, took a strong interest in the plight of Iraq’s Kurds. At that time, Iraq’s brutal ruler, Saddam Hussein, was committing genocide, using chemical weapons against the Kurds, while uprooting them from their land. 

Thus, KRG Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, had high praise for Danielle Mitterrand and her husband, when their son, Gilbert, visited the Kurdistan Region in 2021.

The younger Mitterrand heads the non-profit charity established by his mother: France Libertés – Fondation Danielle Mitterrand. As Barzani told him, his parents would always be remembered for their “historic stance” in supporting the Kurdish people during “difficult times.”

Read More: PM Barzani hails historical role of late Danielle Mitterrand in meeting with her son 

Since then, France has maintained a consistently friendly policy toward the Kurds. 

In February, Patrick Durel, who had been the envoy of French President Francois Macron to the Middle East and North Africa, was appointed French ambassador to Iraq. 

Read More: French president’s ex-envoy to MENA appointed ambassador to Iraq

In September, Durel visited Erbil, where he met the Kurdish leadership, including Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, as well as President Nechirvan Barzani.

In July, when the long-time Kurdish leader, Masoud Barzani, visited Baghdad, he became the first Kurdish leader to meet with Durel. In that meeting, as well as his subsequent meetings, Durel expressed France's strong support for the upcoming elections in the Kurdistan Region.

Read More: KDP President Massoud Barzani receives French Ambassador to Iraq

Following the vote, on Monday, Durel tweeted, “The French Embassy welcomes the holding of legislative elections in the Autonomous Region of #Kurdistan on October 20. It is delighted with the strong turnout of voters.”

“This vote represents an important political step for the Autonomous Region and Iraq as a whole,” he added.

Britain Welcomes Kurdish Elections

The British Consulate in Erbil also welcomed the vote in the Kurdistan Region. 

“We welcome the elections held in the Kurdistan Region yesterday,” it tweeted on Monday.

“The high turnout is a strong message of support for the renewal of democratic legitimacy,” it continued, and “we expect the resumption of parliament and the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government as soon as possible.”