Citizens in the Federated Kurdistan Region will go to the polls for parliamentary elections on October 20. Postponed for 2 years, some innovations come to the fore in the elections. On February 22, the Iraqi Federal Court canceled the quota seats of the components in the parliament and reduced the number of seats from 111 to 100. With the court's decision, the quota seats allocated to “components” in the Kurdistan Region Parliament were abolished.

 

The Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP) also decided not to participate in the elections following the decision to abolish the “component” quota. On May 21, the Electoral Judicial Board of the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council issued a new decision. It decided that 5 seats in the 100-seat Kurdistan Parliament would be reserved for Turkmen, Christians and Armenians. The propaganda process for the elections has begun. As the elections approach, the rivalry between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (YNK) and the KDP has intensified. Journalist Amed Dicle evaluated the upcoming elections and possible possibilities. 

 

'TURKEY WANTED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL'

 

Stating that the main reason for the postponement of the elections was Turkey's military attacks in the region, Dicle said: “Turkey aimed to gain control in Federated Kurdistan with the Claw-Kilit attacks. When they failed to achieve success in the first six months, they preferred to postpone the elections. When the attacks ended, they wanted to start the election process. However, no success was achieved. The postponement of the elections to October 20 is due to the KDP's close cooperation with Turkey and the failure of the military attacks in the region.”

 

Journalist Amed Dicle

 

 TWO NOTEWORTHY DEVELOPMENTS

 

Noting that two important developments are noteworthy in these parliamentary elections, unlike the previous elections, “The first is that the Federal Court in Baghdad canceled the Supreme Electoral Council of the Federated Kurdistan Region in Erbil. The election process will now be completely under the control of the Iraqi High Election Commission.  This means a weakening of autonomy. Previously, the elections were organized in Erbil, but now Baghdad has all the authority” Dicle said and stated that the second development is the abolition of the quota system. 

Dicle said: “In the previous elections, 11 out of 110 deputies entered the parliament with a minority quota and most of these deputies were composed of names close to the KDP. However, the cancellation of this system led the KDP to reevaluate its position regarding the elections. The KDP sees this decision as a big loss. Because this system gave them an advantage in parliament. As a result of the KDP's objections and diplomatic initiatives, the elections were postponed and the number allocated for the quota was set at 5.”

 

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN KDP AND AKP 

 

Pointing out that the KDP followed a strategy similar to that of the AKP in the election campaign and emphasized the opening of social facilities, Dicle said that projects that were started years ago, such as the Hewlêr-Koye road, are now being presented as completed. “The KDP is trying to prevent the people from questioning these issues by keeping the economic crisis and Turkey's military attacks off the agenda. However, the economic crisis is one of the most important agenda items of the people of Federated Kurdistan. High unemployment rates, the lack of regular payment of public employees' salaries and deepening poverty are causing discomfort among the KDP's base. While some people are living in great luxury, the Peshmerga cannot even receive their salaries. While the top executives of the KDP are adding wealth to their fortunes, the people are struggling to survive in poverty” he said. 

 

'YNK STRIVES TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION'

 

Noting that the YNK, the biggest rival to the KDP, focused more on the economic crisis and Turkey's military interventions in the region in its election campaign, Dicle said: “The YNK is trying to ensure a wide participation in the elections. YNK is encouraging people to go to the polls to break Turkey's influence. Because every election won by the KDP with Turkey's support means that Turkey gains more legitimacy in the region. The YNK is also struggling against internal divisions. Former party co-chair Lahur Shex Janggi is running as an independent and is expected to gain a share of the YNK's voting base. While campaigning is intensifying in areas where the YNK is strong, such as Sulaymaniyah and Halabja, it is still unclear which party will prevail in Hewlêr.” 

 

'YNK'S WIN WILL BE A BLOW TO TURKEY'

  

Underlining that the winning party in the elections will be determined by the turnout rate, Dicle stated that the high turnout will show the size of the public's reaction against the KDP's cooperation with Turkey. Dicle continued his words as follows: “Election security is still a question mark, especially in regions where the KDP is strong, such as Duhok and Zaxo. Turkey's military presence and operations in the region increase security problems during the election process. People's distrust of political parties can also directly affect the outcome of the elections.  The KDP's vote share in the region will determine the outcome of this cooperation and the economic order it has established. If the KDP wins the elections, Turkey's attacks in the region will be perceived as legitimized. If the YNK wins, Turkey will be dealt a major blow. These elections are of vital importance not only for Kurdistan but also for Turkey's regional interests.”