The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) won 39 seats, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (YNK) 23, Nwey Nwe 15, Yekgirtu 7, Komel 3, Helwest 4, Bêriya Gel 2, Hevpeymaniya Kurdistan and Gorran 1 seat each in the parliamentary elections held in the Federated Kurdistan Region on October 20 with 72.6 percent turnout. As no single party reached the 51 seats required to form a government, all eyes turned to the coalition to be formed. Due to the contradictions, demands and conditions put forward by the parties, the government could not be formed. 

 

 

Coalition discussions continue in the Federated Kurdistan Region, where a government has not been formed for nearly a month. Hawre Karwan, a journalist based in the region, evaluated the KDP's stance, Turkey's influence on possible coalitions and the latest developments. 

 

'GOVERNMENT CANNOT BE FORMED'

 

Stating that the elections were not held in a democratic environment, Karwan said that negotiations between the parties for the formation of a new government are ongoing. Karwan stated that the last elections took place in a different atmosphere compared to the previous elections and said: “YNK conducted the election campaign with a different mechanism compared to the previous elections. In the campaign, the occupation of the region by the Turkish state and the situation in the region were generally discussed. For this reason, YNK could not carry out its election campaign in Behdînan, Duhok and Hewlêr. In response to this, YNK leader Bafil Talabani said; 'if they prevent us in Behdînan, we will stop them'.  Due to the disagreements between YNK and KDP, some political observers stated that the elections should not have been held. The election results have been announced but there is no government.”  

 

 

Karwan said that the KDP wants to form a coalition but the parties have conditions, adding that the final decision of the Iraqi High Election Commission is awaited as there were nearly 120 complaints about irregularities after the elections. “Parties with a single seat are likely to lose that seat as well. Since the KDP did not get a majority of the votes in this election, it cannot form a new government on its own. Nwey Nwe has stipulated that it will form a coalition if all ministries are given. KDP does not accept this either. Because of the current situation, the people will not accept the KDP as a government. These are the other reasons delaying the formation of the government,” he said.  

 

'KDP MET WITH ALL PARTIES EXCEPT YNK'

 

Karwan said that the YNK also has conditions for the formation of the new government, adding that the YNK can take part in the coalition if its demands are met.  “KDP visited all parties except YNK to form the government. On the other hand, YNK made two conditions to take part in the coalition. The first is that Masrour Barzani should not be the prime minister again and the second is that they should be given the prime ministership or the presidency. The Kurdistan Region parliament is due to hold its first meeting. The oldest of the MPs will temporarily become the speaker of parliament and give the winning party the task of forming a government within a month," Karwan said. 

 

TURKEY'S DEMAND FROM THE KDP 

 

KDP is acting in line with Turkey's demands said Karwan and added:  “The KDP is a partner of the Turkish state. Therefore, it wants to form a government with a party approved by Turkey. KDP's decisions are in the interest of the Turkish state. We have seen that the YNK is against these policies of the KDP. During the election process, YNK demanded the Turkish state to end the occupation and withdraw its forces from Southern Kurdistan. The KDP does not want to form a government with any other party except Nwey Nwe, but this seems impossible under the current circumstances. Because any party that forms a coalition with the KDP will be subservient to the KDP. KDP will impose its own decisions and weaken that party over time. The YNK has also been punished by the people many times. But this time the people gave YNK another chance. Therefore, if it participates in the government as before, people will punish the YNK again in the new parliamentary elections. In the previous cabinets, the KDP was in power and had the decision-making power. The other parties only listened to the KDP's decisions and implemented them. But this time, no party will enter the coalition until there is a real decision maker and participation.”  

 

Noting that Turkey forced the KDP to make a coalition with a weak party, Karwan said that the KDP acted according to Turkey's demand. Saying that Turkey wants to realize its attack plans and dreams through the KDP, Karwan continued as follows: “Previously, the KDP had 45 seats and took 11 seats from the minority quota. Turkey wants to appoint a Turkmen governor or a chauvinist Arab to the cabinet. But this time the Turkish state's dream will not come true. It wants to realize its dreams by keeping the YNK out of the government. The YNK has 25 seats. Therefore, you cannot ignore the YNK as the second party. Turkey wants a weak government that will serve it and wants the status quo to remain the same. The KDP has served Turkey by opening the border gates with the 50-year oil deal and trading for millions of dollars. But this situation will no longer be the same. Just as the KDP lost power in this election, the Turkish occupation will end here.”