Northern Iraq's KDP set to boycott June regional elections

By Bekir Aydogan

ERBIL, Iraq (AA) – In the wake of a controversial court ruling, northern Iraq’s Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) in Iraq said on Monday that they are boycotting the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) parliamentary elections set for June 10.

"As a matter of historical responsibility and in the interests of our people and our homeland, we will not participate in illegal elections held in the shadow of an unconstitutional and imposed system," said a KDP statement.

Saying that the parties should abide by the political and administrative agreements made in the formation of the government of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, prime minister of the administration in Baghdad, the statement held parties of the state administration coalition responsible for the non-implementation of constitutional and political agreements.

"Abolition of the quota for the entities ignores the basic principles necessary for a free, fair, and equitable election," said the statement, referring to the removal of quota seats in parliament for Turkmen and Christian entities.

The KDP's decision not to participate in the elections came after rulings last month by the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court on the region, which the KDP described as "contrary to the spirit of the Constitution."

The court ruled that the salaries of civil servants in the KRG should be deposited in accounts in Iraqi banks, the Baghdad government should be stripped of its authority to "lend money" to the KRG, and all oil and non-oil revenues of the KRG should be handed over to the central government.

The court also ruled that the quota of 11 seats – five for Turkmens and six for Christians – in the 111-seat KRG parliament was "unconstitutional" and said the number of parliamentary seats was reduced to 100.

It also divided the KRG into four electoral districts.

Following the court decision, some Turkmen and Christian political parties in the KRG announced that they will boycott the elections.

The Iraqi Turkmen Front announced that they are working for Turkmens to enter the elections with a single list.

*Writing by Muhammed Yasin Gungor