Komal urges early election to break Kurdistan political deadlock, floats parliament walkout

Rastinews — Abdulsettar Mecid, a member of the Political Bureau of the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal), said the Kurdistan Parliament has become non-functional and that early elections are needed to resolve the political deadlock and stalled dialogue in the Kurdistan Region.

Mecid said the deadlock stems mainly from disagreements between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). According to him, the two sides are not opposed in principle to meeting — the dispute is over the conditions under which such a meeting would take place.

"KDP wants the parliament activated before any meeting"

"Both sides are willing to meet," Mecid said. "But while one side says 'let's get together and talk,' the KDP says, 'before the meeting, we need to know whether you're ready to activate the parliament.'"

"A meeting should be held without preconditions"

Mecid said Komal has conveyed a message to KDP leader Masoud Barzani and PUK Co-President Bafel Talabani, arguing that a meeting should take place without any preconditions. He said such a meeting is necessary to address the deteriorating political situation, the rift between the two parties, and the future of relations with the Iraqi government.

Mecid said he was not optimistic that such a meeting would happen soon. "I'm not optimistic this meeting will take place tomorrow or next week," he said.

"Withdrawing from parliament is the best stance"

Criticizing the paralysis of the Kurdistan Parliament, Mecid noted that nearly two years after the election, the legislature still has not convened and has failed to elect its presidency board. He argued that, for political parties outside the KDP and PUK, the best available stance under the current circumstances is to withdraw from parliament.

"We expect early elections"

Mecid said early elections are needed to resolve the crisis and that Komal is waiting for a fresh vote. "We say it clearly: we expect the elections to be renewed," he said.

Mecid said that if the parties agree to hold a clean and transparent election, Komal would be ready for it to be held under the supervision of Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission. He added that if a new election produced the same result, Komal would apologize to the public. "If the elections are clean, transparent and orderly, then we will truly come forward and apologize to the people, and say: 'We failed to meet your demands and expectations,'" he said.

Parliament has not convened in two years

Parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region, delayed for two years, were finally held on October 20, 2024. In the 100-seat legislature, the KDP won 39 seats, the PUK 23, the New Generation Movement 15, and Komal 3.

Newly elected lawmakers were sworn in on December 2, 2024, but the parliament has not convened since, nor has it elected its presidency board, due to disputes among the political parties.

KDP and PUK delegations have met repeatedly over government formation, but talks have so far produced no results because of disagreements over security structures and power-sharing.