At a Glance

• A session of the Kurdistan Parliament is scheduled for Wednesday.

• Most parliamentary caucuses have said they will not take part.

• The session was requested by the KDP and several allied caucuses.

Information obtained by Channel8 shows that the Kurdistan Parliament is set to convene today despite a boycott by the majority of its caucuses, which describe the session as a unilateral move by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

Key Statements and Focus Area

• Adham Barzani on the Decision: "This decision completely sets fire to all foundations of unity and joint work among diverse political beliefs." — Adham Barzani, KDP figure.

• KIU on Non-Participation: "Because there is no consensus among the lists for this meeting, we will not participate in it." — Mustafa Abdullah, Head of the Kurdistan Islamic Union caucus.

• Babylon Caucus on Hegemony: "We will not grant any political legitimacy to any attempt to impose a forced reality." — Babylon caucus, Kurdistan Parliament.

• Focus Area: The boycott of the Kurdistan Parliament session by most blocs and the dispute over whether it can proceed legally and with national consensus.

Ardalan Mohammed, Head of the Parliament's Presidency Office, told a press conference attended by Channel8's reporter that the session would be legal if 51 members attend.

He said the agenda consists solely of voting on the third item and electing the Parliament's Presidium. The interim Speaker, the oldest member and a New Generation caucus member, will not take part. MP Samira Hassan told Channel8 she, as the third oldest parliamentarian, will preside over the session.

The session was requested on Tuesday, November 3, by the KDP, Socialist Party, Turkmen, and Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian caucuses to complete the parliament's first sitting, after which a document under the Presidency Office's name called on MPs to attend.

The PUK, KIU, Halwest Movement, Babylon and New Generation caucuses have all decided to stay away, describing the move as a disruption of genuine partnership and political unity.

The KIU said it supports reactivating parliament in principle and spent two years pursuing consensus and hopes future meetings will include all sides. The Turkmen Caucus (Slemani), headed by Najdat Nuri, said parliament is a constitutional institution representing all citizens, not a tool to impose party will, and expressed solidarity with the PUK.

Babylon said the era of unilateral rule and monopolization of posts has ended, calling respect for partnership, political balance, and the constitution the only path to a legitimate institution.

Gorran's Jwanro Mohammed said an active parliament is the solution but that he will not take part, citing his refusal to be part of dividing the Region.

Adham Barzani urged that the decision be halted and voided, warning that only the public would suffer and that unity stands above reactivating a parliament whose laws have not been implemented for years.

Meanwhile, KDP MP Rozh Barzinji stated: "Today it is a national, humanitarian, and patriotic duty for all members of parliament to attend parliament and demonstrate to the citizens who gave them their trust that they are ready to reactivate parliament."

FYI

The Kurdistan Region's parliamentary elections were held on October 20, 2024, with the KDP winning 39 seats and the PUK 23. Lawmakers were sworn in on December 2, 2024, but deep rifts prevented the election of a speaker and president.

Attempts to convene the legislature have since failed to reach the required quorum, leaving parliament inactive for over two years while the government operates in a caretaker capacity.

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PUK Rejects Kurdistan Region Parliament Session, Calls It Illegal