At a Glance

• The KDP said that reactivating parliament protects the constitutional entity of the Kurdistan Region.

• The party underlined that the legislative session achieved a legal majority despite boycotts from major political blocs.

• It expressed hope that all political factions would join together to advance shared responsibility.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) spokesperson stated on Wednesday that the reactivation of parliament is not directed against any party and remains open to all factions to join in protecting the legitimacy and constitutional entity of the Kurdistan Region.

Key Statements and Focus Area

• KDP Spokesperson Mahmoud Mohammed stated that today’s parliament session was held “in the presence of a majority of lawmakers” and stressed that the presidency was elected through “a legal and democratic process.”

• “We hope that following the reactivation of the Kurdistan Parliament, the factions of other parties will make a positive decision to participate in protecting the legitimacy and entity of the Kurdistan Region,” the statement noted.

Following the election of the Kurdistan Parliament presidency in a session boycotted by major political blocs, KDP Spokesperson Mohammed issued a statement, emphasizing that the session “was a belated but necessary step to protect the constitutional entity of the Kurdistan Region. Unfortunately, for two years, due to the political decisions of the leadership of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and New Generation, this legitimate institution of the Region, which represents the voice and will of the people, had been paralyzed.”

The KDP stated that lawmakers resolved the legal vacuum and addressed “the unilateral imposition of a political minority.”

“This was achieved despite the severe threats made against some parliamentarians and their families, which serves as a dangerous indicator, a threat to democracy and the people's will, and reflects a mindset that does not serve the democratization of Kurdish society,” the statement indicated.

The party further highlighted its stance, saying that parliament serves as a factor for unity within Kurdistan and expressing hope that all political sides would ultimately respect the democratic process.

“We hope this step will encourage shared responsibility in advancing the Kurdistan Region during this sensitive phase, and bring all perspectives closer together to serve the people and the future of Kurdistan,” the statement remarked.

FYI

The Kurdistan Region Parliament broke a nearly two-year political deadlock by reconvening a session that had remained technically open since its inauguration on December 2, 2024, following the October 2024 regional elections. 

The legislative push to resume standard proceedings occurred after the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), alongside Socialist, Turkmen, and Christian caucuses, formally requested a continuation of the session to establish a permanent legislative leadership.

 During today’s proceedings, KDP bloc head Vala Fareed addressed the interim leadership to resolve procedural deadlocks by calling for floor votes on nominations and withdrawals, ultimately resulting in her election as Speaker alongside Rami Nouri as Deputy and Muna Qahwachi as Secretary.

The session barely secured a legal quorum with only 52 participating lawmakers, drawing heavily from the KDP’s 39 representatives alongside minor component quota seats and single-digit members from other factions. 

This narrow attendance was driven by a widespread boycott from major rival political blocs, most notably the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which denounced the assembly as illegal and criticized it as a unilateral imposition that bypassed essential regional consensus. 

While external groups like the Kurdistan Islamic Union supported reactivation in principle but favored total inclusivity, inside authorities expressed deep concern, with Parliament’s Diwan Chief Ardalan Muhammad warning that this severe lack of political consensus risks causing a permanent fracture within the Kurdistan Region.

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