Week One Election Report

Iraqi Kurdistan at a Crossroads

Shkow Sharif 26/06/2009

(Suleymania, Kurdistan Region) There is no test like a competitive election to assess a countries democratic health and week one of campaigning in Iraqi Kurdistan has put the Kurdish democratic rhetoric to the test. The Kurdish Regional Government and Regional Presidential elections are to be held on 25th July 2009. “Twenty four political entities, including five alliances, have declared their participation in the election, competing for 111 parliamentary seats including 11 reserved for ethnic and religious minorities. In total, 507 candidates have registered to compete in the elections.”[i]

Week one has seen the Kurdistan List, a coalition between the two dominant political parties in the region with an unmistakable logo of a white horse galloping between a green and yellow backdrop, tighten their political strangle hold over the Duhok and Erbil provinces. Many political observers that I have had contact with argue that this election will really make waves in the Suleymania province. The Suleymania province boasting about 40 of the 111 seats too often in Kurdish history has been the city of political discontent and this time is no different. A new political entity has emerged out of anger at the culture of corruption that has developed under the noses of the current leadership of the PUK and KDP (The Kurdistan List). The movement which simply calls itself “Change” and flies under the symbol of a candle with a purple backdrop, are campaigning on a message of transparency and reform. The “Change” list a coalition of independent candidates who share their leader Nawshirwan Mustafa’s desire for change seem to have strong support in the province in particular in the town of Chamchamal and Suleymania City.

Although the first week of campaigning has been a truly electric one, with candidates going door to door, volunteers working hard to give out their list’s merchandise and large campaign convoys of cars dominating the cities, it seems what the first week will be remembered for is the issue of the Kurdish draft constitution which has pitted the “Kurdistan” list and the “Change” list against each other. The draft constitution, which opponents argue gives the regional president too much power in the region, was rushed through parliament in two days in order to be put to referendum on Election Day. One of the most contentious articles (Article 104 -5) which gives the regional president the power to dissolve parliament has many of the opposition parties and lists arguing that this article alone would threaten to leave the Kurdish parliament as only a ceremonial institution and will leave full power with the Office of the President (which is highly expected to remain with the current President Massoud Barzani). This has left the opposition parties in particular the leader of the “Change” list desperately searching for legal loopholes to postpone the referendum and even have it put through parliament again for a revote.

One of the final issues to note about the first week is the fear that this election may turn violent in particular if there is any election rigging. The threat of discontent has particularly been bolstered by the images flooding into Iraqi Kurdistan of the recent Iranian Protests. There have already been reports of threats, violence and discharging of weapons most notably in the Town of Kifri where “Change” supporters and campaigners have been threatened to stop campaigning and were fired upon by supporters of the Kurdistan List.



[i] Jumani Kemal, “Kurdistan prepares for elections”, Niqash, 25 jun 09