KDP Welcomes Kurdistan Parliament’s Reactivation, Accuses PUK and New Generation of Two-Year Political Obstruction
The Kurdistan Democratic Party says Wednesday's election of parliament's presidency was a necessary step to protect the Region's constitutional institutions, while urging other political factions to join the legislative process
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) on Wednesday welcomed the reactivation of the Kurdistan Region's parliament and the election of its presidency, describing the move as a long-overdue but necessary step to protect the Region's constitutional status, while accusing the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the New Generation Movement (NGM) of contributing to the legislature's two-year paralysis.
In a statement issued by KDP spokesperson Mahmoud Mohammed on Wednesday, the party said parliament had continued its inaugural session in the presence of a majority of lawmakers and elected its presidency through what it described as a legal and democratic process.
The statement congratulated the newly elected Speaker Vala Fardi, Deputy Speaker Rami Nouri, and Parliament Secretary Mona Qahwachi, wishing them success in carrying out their national responsibilities.
Mohammed described the election as a delayed but essential measure to preserve the Kurdistan Region's constitutional institutions. He said the parliament had been unable to function for two years because of what he called political decisions by the PUK leadership and the NGM, arguing that the paralysis had weakened an institution representing the voice and will of the people.
He said the majority of lawmakers from different parliamentary blocs had fulfilled their national responsibilities, respected the votes of their constituents, and upheld their legal oaths by completing the democratic process.
He described Wednesday's vote as bringing an end to what he called a legal vacuum and the imposition of a political minority.
The KDP spokesperson also alleged that threats had been made against several lawmakers and their family members in an attempt to prevent their participation. He warned that such threats represented a danger to democracy and the people's will, adding that intimidation had no place in advancing democratic institutions and public life in the Kurdistan Region.
Mohammed called on all political parties to respect the people's wishes and the democratic process, emphasizing that parliament should serve as the principal forum for political and legal dialogue and a foundation for internal unity and cohesion in the Kurdistan Region.
He stressed that reactivating parliament was not directed against any individual or political party, describing the institution as open to all political forces.
He also expressed hope that parliamentary blocs that had not participated in Wednesday's proceedings would reconsider their positions and join the legislative process to help preserve the Region's constitutional legitimacy and institutional framework.
The statement further called for shared political responsibility at what the KDP described as a sensitive stage for the Kurdistan Region, urging political forces to narrow their differences and work together to advance the Region's interests and serve its population.
The Kurdistan Region's sixth parliamentary term was elected in October 2024, but disagreements among the main political parties prevented the legislature from completing its inaugural procedures and electing its leadership for more than two years.
The deadlock also complicated negotiations over the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) tenth cabinet, as the parliament's inactivity left the Region without a fully functioning legislative body to carry out its lawmaking and oversight responsibilities.
Wednesday's election of the parliamentary presidency, attended by 52 lawmakers, marked a significant step toward restoring the institution's constitutional role. With Vala Fardi elected Speaker, Rami Nouri Deputy Speaker, and Mona Qahwachi Parliament Secretary, the legislature now has an elected leadership team to oversee the next phase of its work.
The extent to which the parliamentary reactivation will help resolve outstanding political disagreements and accelerate the formation of the tenth cabinet will depend on whether the Region's political factions can resume dialogue and participate in the legislative process.