At a Glance

• The Kurdistan Parliament's Presidency Office issued a clarification over an invitation sent to MPs.

• The office says the invitation did not come from it.

• Only part of the required number of signatures has been received so far.

Information obtained by Channel8 shows that several parliamentary blocs plan to stay away from the session even if it is convened, as the Presidency Office of the Kurdistan Parliament distanced itself from an invitation calling MPs to attend.

Key Statements and Focus Area

• Denial of the Invitation: "We deem it necessary to inform the public that this invitation has no connection to us, directly or indirectly." — Presidency Office of the Kurdistan Parliament.

• On the Legal Quorum: "To date, the legal quorum required for a session of parliament members, which is 50+1, has not been officially received by us." — Presidency Office of the Kurdistan Parliament.

• Focus Area: The dispute over whether a session to complete the Kurdistan Parliament's first sitting can legally be held.

In a document signed by Ardelan Mohammed Sarspi, Head of the Presidency Office, the office said the invitation published on the parliament's website was not authorized by it and that it had not tasked any individual or party with issuing it.

It confirmed that it has officially received the signatures of only 43 MPs, short of the 50+1 needed, while stating that the parliamentary hall remains ready and open whenever the quorum is met.

The clarification follows a call by the KDP, Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party, Turkmen, and Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian caucuses for a session on Wednesday to complete the first sitting. A document was then published under the name of the Presidency Office urging MPs to attend.

According to Channel8's information, the PUK, New Generation, Kurdistan Islamic Union, one Turkmen caucus, and one Christian caucus will not take part even if the session goes ahead.

FYI

The first sitting of a newly elected parliament must be completed before it can elect its speaker and begin regular work, and it requires an absolute majority of members to be present. Disagreements among the Kurdistan Region's main parties over the process have repeatedly delayed the parliament's formation since the elections.

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