Kurdistan Democratic Party rejects early elections in Kurdistan Region, urges parliament activation

ERBIL, Iraq — A spokesperson for the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) said on Saturday that his party is not pursuing early elections in the Kurdistan Region, calling instead for parliament to be reactivated and a new government formed. KDP spokesperson Mahmoud Mohammed said the political situation in the region makes it necessary to promptly resume legislative activity and take practical steps toward establishing the 10th cabinet. The Kurdistan Region's parliamentary elections were held in October 2024 after a two-year delay, with the KDP winning 39 seats and its traditional rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), taking 23 seats. Nearly two years later, political parties have yet to reach agreement on power-sharing and disputed files in negotiations aimed at forming the regional government. Mohammed said a meeting between the political bureaus of the KDP and the PUK was being arranged to discuss the deadlocked reconciliation process. On the question of early elections, he said the option would not be pursued as long as a practical path to reconvening parliament and forming a government remained available. No further details on the timing of the proposed KDP-PUK meeting were immediately available.