ŞIRNEX - Stating that the effects of the failure to form a government in the Federated Kurdistan Region for more than a year have manifested itself in every field, academician Kamuran Berwarî noted that Turkey is preparing for a serious war in the region.  

 

Although more than a year has passed since the parliamentary elections held in the Federated Kurdistan Region on 20 October 2024 under the supervision of the Iraqi High Independent Election Commission, no government has been formed. 

 

According to the results, Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP) won 39 seats in the parliament, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) 23 and New Generation Movement 15. According to these results, no party has reached the number of seats to form a government on its own. In order to form a new government, KDP needs to form a coalition with a party. Although many meetings were held between the KDP, which came out as the first party in the election, and the PUK, the second party, no agreement was reached. 

 

While the failure to form a government affected the society as a whole, PUK and KDP took to the field for the Iraqi parliamentary elections to be held on 11 November. PUK Chair Bafel Talabani, speaking at his party's candidate presentation rally in Sulaymaniyah on 18 October, maintained the same stance on the failure to form a government and said, "Why can't the government be formed? Because we will not form any government in Kurdistan that we do not believe will not repeat its mistakes and will not serve you". 

 

Parallel to these developments, Turkey is preparing for a comprehensive war in the Federated Kurdistan Region. New roads and fortresses are being built for this purpose. On 21 October, the parliament passed a bill to extend the troop presence in Iraq and Syria for another 3 years with the votes of Justice and Development Party (AKP), Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and IYI Party.

Dr Kamuran Berwarî, Vice President of the Academy of Politics and Democratic Thought in the Federated Kurdistan Region, made evaluations on the failure to form a government, the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections and Turkey's war preparations. 

 

'THERE IS A DE FACTO GOVERNMENT'

 

Stating that the failure to form the government is a crime according to the Iraqi Constitution, Kamuran Berwari said: "According to the Iraqi Election Commission laws, the deputies should be elected within 40 days after the election and the deputies should start their duties. After 40 days, the government should be formed and announced. Ministers and Prime Minister should be determined by the new government. According to Iraqi law, if the government cannot be formed, the elections must be renewed. According to Iraqi law, the Kurdistan government is de facto and has no validity. There is no parliament in Kurdistan at the moment. The government could not be formed due to the conflicts between PUK and KDP. Since 1994, there have been conflicts between the two parties. The problems between the two parties are growing day by day. The reason why the government could not be formed is that PUK wants to have a say in the new government to be formed. PUK does not want to take part in the government only in form and on paper. It wants to have a say in decision-making and executive bodies like the KDP. KDP, on the other hand, is not in favour of this".   

 

'SOCIETY AS A WHOLE IS AFFECTED'

 

Pointing out that the failure to form a government in the past year has affected every segment of the society, Berwari said: "The effects of this are manifested everywhere. It is possible to see its effects everywhere, especially in the fields of economy, education, psychological and military. There is no legal government at the moment, which makes the parliament dysfunctional. All the work done on behalf of the government is currently illegal. There has been no mechanism to supervise the government for a year. Civil servants have not received their salaries for months, but no one has made a sound. The 10th month is over, but the salaries of the 7th month have not been paid yet. Economically, Kurdistan is now at a critical stage. The situation of the citizens is very bad now. There is a decay in every aspect. This instability is a conscious policy of the government. One of the reasons why the government has not been formed is that it wants to illegally collapse the resources of the people.”

 

'THEY HAVE NOT FOUND A SOLUTION FOR 23 YEARS'

 

Berwarî reminded that PUK and KDP, who failed to form a government, are on the field for the Iraqi parliamentary elections to be held on 11 November. He said: "New scenarios are written in every election period. The people are deceived by using the children of aghas, sheikhs and begs. Since Saddam's departure, many promises have been made on behalf of the nation, but not a single one of these promises has been kept until today. Except for a few people who went to Baghdad, the rest are defending their own interests. On the other hand, there are those who fight for the rights of Kurds in Baghdad with the spirit of peshmerga, guerrilla and warrior. The parties that are now in the field for the elections and making propaganda should not deceive the people of Başûr. The people of Başûr will not repeat the mistakes of the past. Currently, there is a loss of power in Başûr Kurdistan. Borders are slowly being taken away from them. Customs and markets are being taken away one by one. Identities and passports are now in the hands of the Baghdad government. The borders of Başûr Kurdistan have not been determined. The current political parties could not solve these problems in the past 23 years.”

 

'EVERYONE WHO REMAINS SILENT IS A PARTNER'

 

Kamuran Berwarî emphasised that the political parties focusing on the Iraqi parliamentary elections in Başûr remained silent on the war crimes taking place in the "Media Defence Areas" and said: "As long as Turkey's soldiers are in Başûr, as long as outposts are built, as long as its intelligence is everywhere, it will not be right to talk about an authority. Currently, the forests of Başûr Kurdistan are being destroyed by the hand of Turkey. There is a plunder against humanity, morality, conscience and religion. Turkey is not the only culprit of this; it is the government of Başûr that remains silent. Everyone in Başûr who remains silent is a partner in this crime. Everyone must react against this plunder. The Başûr government is playing blind and deaf against the cutting of these trees, whose lifespan is hundreds of years."  

 

'THE PATH OF PEACE SHOULD BE CHOSEN, NOT WAR'

 

Drawing attention to Turkey is preparing for a new and comprehensive war in the Federated Kurdistan Region, Berwarî said: "There is a great preparation for war. They aim to liquidate the Kurdish Freedom Movement everywhere from Lebanon to Syria, from Iraq to Iran. Alongside the preparations for war, there is also a peace negotiation. If Turkey chooses the path of war, it will be in no one's interest. Instead, instead of insisting on war, they should go to İmralı and democratic negotiations for the solution of the problems should be started as soon as possible. The past 40 years of conflict has caused great losses to the peoples of Turkey. More than 2 trillion dollars was spent on the war against the Kurds. If this money had been allocated to the people of Turkey, Turkey would be in a very different place today. We hope that the government of Başûr will fully support peace. The political parties in Kurdistan should endeavour to remove foreign troops from Kurdistan instead of dealing with each other. The wall of shame between Northern and Eastern Syria and Başûr should be abandoned."  

 

MA / Emrullah Acar