ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Shakhawan Abdullah, senior Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) official and Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, has urged Kurdish unity and strong voter turnout ahead of Iraq’s upcoming legislative elections, scheduled for November 11. He warned that divisions among Kurdish parties could weaken the community’s representation in Baghdad. Speaking to Rudaw’s Bestoon Osman during the premiere of BestoonTalk Elections, hosted at the historic Kirkuk Citadel, Abdullah emphasized the importance of the Kurds’ reclaiming the political ground lost in last December’s provincial elections. “Kurds were not able to secure even half the seats in the last provincial council elections,” the Kirkuk native said, stressing, “This puts our votes at risk … We must try to regain six seats.” In the December elections, Kurds won seven of Kirkuk’s provincial council seats - two went to the KDP and five to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Arabs won six seats, Turkmens took two and one seat was allocated to the Christian quota. Throughout his tenure as Deputy Speaker, Abdullah emerged as a powerhouse in defending Kurdish rights, especially in disputed territories such as Kirkuk. He has frequently opposed federal actions that he claims aim to alter the city's demographics and marginalize the Kurds. He told Rudaw the upcoming November elections are crucial for returning the political balance in Kirkuk and other disputed areas. “We are aiming for the KDP to come out on top in this city to be able to improve the situation of its people,” he said, urging candidates to use “responsible rhetoric” that fosters “stability and national unity in the province.” Kirkuk power struggle Kirkuk’s complex ethnic makeup and long-standing rivalry between the KDP and the PUK on the one hand, and Kurdish, Arab and Turkmen parties on the other, have made it a focal point of political contention. Tensions heightened in August 2024 when Rebwar Taha of the PUK was appointed governor following a controversial Baghdad meeting attended by only nine council members - five from the PUK, three Arabs, and one Christian. The KDP and several Sunni Arab and Turkmen members boycotted the latter session, calling it illegal and later challenging it in court. However, Iraq’s judiciary upheld Taha’s appointment. More recently, Arab members of Kirkuk’s provincial council said they support Taha’s governorship under a power-sharing deal with the PUK. However, Taha has shown no signs of stepping down. For his part, Abdullah has signaled a more pragmatic approach from the KDP regarding the matter, telling Rudaw the KDP would not oppose Taha’s remaining as governor if it serves the city’s stability. “If the PUK declares that after January 1, they will not hand over the governor’s position, His Excellency President [Masoud] Barzani will instruct KDP members in the Kirkuk council not to oppose Mr. Rebwar. They will support his continued tenure if it contributes to the city’s stability,” Abdullah asserted. Abdullah also pledged to restore the Kurdistan flag alongside the Iraqi flag at the Peshmerga statue in Kirkuk. The flag was removed after federal forces and Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) took control of Kirkuk in October 2017. “It is not right to have only the Iraqi flag on the Peshmerga statue,” he said. “I will personally obtain the necessary approvals to place the Kurdistan flag beside it,” adding however that he would pursue the matter post elections “to avoid strife and polarization.” High stakes ballot The Iraqi elections, according to data from Iraq’s electoral body, will see participation from 31 political alliances, 38 parties, 23 independent candidates, and 56 candidates running for minority quota seats. In total, 7,768 candidates - including 5,520 men and 2,248 women - are competing for 329 parliamentary seats, nine of which are reserved for minority groups. More than 39,000 polling stations will be open across 8,703 voting centers for the general vote. An additional 4,501 stations have been designated for special voting, while 97 polling stations will be available for displaced persons living in and around camps in the Kurdistan Region. Following a recent nationwide update to biometric voter registration, over 21 million Iraqis are now eligible to vote.
