ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The leader of the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal), one of the Kurdistan Region’s two main Islamic parties, criticized the current Kurdish parliament as lacking legitimacy due to alleged electoral fraud. Despite this, Ali Bapir argued that convening it to form a new government would still serve the public interest.
“This [parliament] has no legitimacy. We wouldn’t even bother trying to dissolve it because we don’t consider it legitimate,” Bapir told Rudaw in an interview that was aired on Monday.
The Kurdistan Region held delayed parliamentary elections in October 2024, two years after the original date. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) won 39 out of 100 seats, followed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) with 23. As no party achieved a majority, a governing coalition is required, as has been customary.
Amid the impasse, lawmakers in the Kurdish parliament - who are seemingly awaiting the outcome of the government formation talks between the KDP and the PUK - have convened only once in December, without electing a speaker or deputies. The session ended with no significant decisions and was adjourned indefinitely.
Despite the political stalemate, Bapir said, “If [this parliament] convenes and forms a new government, it would be for the benefit of the people.”
Importantly, Komal, which won just three seats, rejected the October election results soon after their announcement, alleging that the vote was rigged.
“We should ask why we didn’t get better results. In fact, we did—but they didn’t give them to us,” Bapir charged, claiming that “everyone agrees that massive fraud was committed” and that “the elections were orchestrated in advance.”
Komal “will not be part of a parliament that was pre-designed” and “will not give legitimacy to an illegitimate situation,” Bapir reiterated.
Of note, Komal’s MP-elect, Omar Gulpi, who has not yet taken his oath of office, filed a lawsuit with Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court in May, challenging the legitimacy of the Kurdish parliament and calling for the election results to be annulled.
Bapir commented, “Perhaps, beyond him [Gulpi], there are many others from across the political spectrum who want this parliament dissolved and a new, clean, and fair election," Bapir commented.
In April, Iraq’s Council of Ministers set November 11 as the date for the next federal legislative elections.
Following the announcement, several Kurdish opposition parties - including Komal, the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), New Generation Movement (NGM), National Stance Movement (Halwest), and the People’s Front (Baray Gal) - began talks to form a joint electoral alliance to challenge the Kurdish ruling parties.
However, the effort fell apart. Halwest withdrew, citing mistrust and accusing unnamed groups of conducting separate negotiations with Baghdad. NGM, the largest opposition party with 15 seats, insisted on leading the coalition, further stalling progress.
“We tried to form a broad opposition alliance - and I won’t go into the details - but we couldn’t make it happen,” Bapir said.
He blamed NGM and “other sides” for the failure, adding that the movement had “imposed a prohibitive condition that no party could accept.”
Despite the setbacks, Bapir affirmed to Rudaw that Komal has made a “decisive decision” to participate in the November legislative elections.
