The elections for the Kurdistan Regional Parliament in the Federated Kurdistan Region on October 20, 2024 have been completed by the Iraqi Supreme Independent Election Commission. According to the results of the elections held in Hewlêr, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok and Halabja, KDP came first, YNK second and New Generation Movement third. According to the results, KDP won 39 seats, YNK 23 and New Generation Movement 15. Compared to the previous elections, KDP lost 6 seats while YNK gained 2 seats in the parliament. According to these results, no party has reached the number of seats to form a government on its own. 

 

After the elections held in the Federated Kurdistan Region, the people of the region are looking forward to the new government to be formed. The first session of the parliament took place on December 2, 2024. In order to form a new government, the KDP needs to form a coalition with a party. However, 2 months later, there is still no coalition between the political parties. Journalist Baran Germiyani evaluated the reasons for the failure to form a government and its consequences. 

 

'KDP DOES NOT MEET DEMANDS'

 

 

Journalist Germiyanî stated that the KDP has not made any serious attempt to form a new government, adding that the visits between political parties, which should have started after the elections, have been very limited and that although the KDP wants to form a government, it does not want to fulfill the demands of the party with which it will form a coalition. Germiyanî pointed out that even the presidential session could not be held in the parliament. Germiyanî stated that a government should be formed between the two parties, but many parties are not willing to do so.  

 

SHARING OF MINISTRIES A MYSTERY

 

Stating that the government to be formed is expected to be between the KDP and the YNK, Germiyanî said: "Of course, since the establishment of the urdistan Regional Government in 1992, the YNK and the KDP were in offce until the Ninth Cabinet. Both political parties were in the government. Therefore, it does not seem impossible for the YNK and the KDP to form a government in the 10th cabinet. They will form a government together and they will share important positions between them and that is how they will agree. Now they are discussing between 5 ministries, but it is unclear whether the KDP will accept it.”

 

ELECTION RESULTS CONTROVERSY 

 

“The Judiciary Union has also announced that it will not officially participate in the parliament,” said journalist Germiyanî and added: "The Judiciary and the Electoral Commission say that the new government will not be healthy as they consider the election results as fraudulent.  During the first session of parliament, when MPs took the oath in parliament, a member of parliament overturned the decision. That's why parliament removed him.”

 

THE IMPACT OF THE OCCUPATION IN THE REGION 

 

Pointing to the problems and crises caused by the previous cabinet, “Employees are not paid enough and this year workers and civil servants have not been paid at all. Moreover, relations between the regional administration and Iraq are at a bad level. Turkey's occupation attacks on the region continue and it has occupied 40 kilometers of land. In Southern Kurdistan, 11 villages and bases have been built this year, 75 villages have been completely evacuated, 170 villages have been evacuated due to the Turkish occupation, and 602 more villages are under threat of evacuation,”  he said. 

 

GOVERNMENT AWAITS FORMATION

 

Botan Germiyani stated that if the government to be formed does not make changes in its system, it will bring great danger with it, "Of course, the new government must be formed and resolved as soon as possible. Only the Barzani family should not determine the government to be formed. Most importantly, the new government to be formed must lead the people of the region out of this crisis and stop Turkey's attacks.”

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut