At a Glance

• The Kurdistan Parliament elected Vala Fareed as Speaker, Rami Nouri as Deputy, and Muna Qahwachi as Secretary.

• The session barely achieved a legal quorum with only 52 participating lawmakers due to a major party boycott.

• Parliament Diwan Chief Ardalan Muhammad warned that this intense political division could permanently fracture the region.

The Kurdistan Parliament elected its new presidency by appointing Vala Fareed as Speaker, Rami Nouri as Deputy, and Muna Qahwachi as Secretary with 52 votes during a session boycotted by major blocs.

Key Statements and Focus Area 

• Addressing the interim Speaker and third-oldest lawmaker Samira Hassan, Vala Fareed, the head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) bloc, stated during the session, “Mr. Speaker of Parliament, as you are well aware, the first session was held on December 2, 2024, and two years have passed since the nomination period. Furthermore, the interim Speaker (Speaker by Age), Mr. Mohamed Sulaiman, who chaired the beginning of the session, did not close the door for nominations.”

• President of the Kurdistan Parliament’s Diwan, Ardalan Muhammad, told reporters, “Unfortunately, the wish of the martyrs' blood was that today, all parties and components would be present inside the parliament hall to bring joy to our nation's heart.”

Following her election, Speaker Vala Fareed requested all legislative factions to submit the names of their nominees for the parliamentary Legal Committee by next Monday before bringing the historic session to a close.

The voting session reached legal quorum with 52 participating lawmakers, including 39 from the KDP, 3 from minority component quota seats, 3 from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), 3 from the New Generation Movement, 2 from the National Stance (Halwest) Movement, 1 from the People's Front, and 1 from the Kurdistan Region Coalition.

During the legislative session, the KDP bloc head, Vala Fareed, officially requested the interim Speaker to put the matter of opening and closing nominations and withdrawals to a parliamentary floor vote.

Fareed argued that because some lawmakers wished to withdraw while others aimed to run, a full parliamentary vote was necessary to ensure the entire legislative process takes its proper legal course.

She emphasized that letting the lawmakers decide the issue directly would resolve the procedural deadlock that has delayed parliamentary progression.

Meanwhile, Parliament’s Diwan Chief Muhammad warned against a lack of consensus among political parties, saying, “I will not make a statement; I do not want to give any further remarks that could lead to the permanent fracture of Kurdistan. Because this is the fruit of the blood of our martyrs and the sacrifices of our past, which is why I refuse to make any statement.”

FYI

Following regional elections in October 2024, the Kurdistan Region Parliament held its inaugural session on December 2, 2024, but political gridlock kept the sitting technically open and unfinished for nearly two years. 

The deadlock broke when the KDP, alongside Socialist, Turkmen, and Christian caucuses, formally requested a continuation of the session to elect a permanent presidency.

While 52 lawmakers attended to secure a legal quorum, major rival blocs completely boycotted the session, claiming it bypassed crucial political consensus.

The PUK strongly condemned the meeting, stating, "We believe this meeting is illegal, far removed from the principles of genuine partnership, and an attempt to impose the single-handed will of one party." 

Furthermore, the PUK warned it would not recognize any subsequent parliament or government if decisions were influenced by threats or psychological pressure. In contrast, the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) noted that while it supports reactivating parliament in principle, it favors a process that includes all political sides. 

Meanwhile, the Suleiman-based Turkmen faction emphasized that parliament must remain a constitutional institution representing all citizens rather than a tool for a single party's will. 

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