Kurdistan Region prepares for first parliamentary session following election results

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Region is gearing up for its first parliamentary session once the official results of this week’s parliamentary elections are finalized, a crucial step in forming the new government and setting the region’s political course.

Following the approval of the results from the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections held on Oct. 20, the President of the Kurdistan Region will call for a parliamentary session, during which members of parliament will take their oaths and the leadership of the parliamentary presidency will be selected, according to formal procedures.

In a press conference held Monday in Baghdad, the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission announced the preliminary results of the recent parliamentary elections.

The Kurdistan parliament’s powers are limited by set procedures regarding the start, duration, and conclusion of its sessions, as well as how its affairs are conducted.

Once the election commission finalizes the results, the president of the Kurdistan Region must summon parliament to convene within 10 days. If the call is not made, parliament will automatically convene on the 11th day, as per Article 3 of the internal bylaws of the Kurdistan Parliament.

Based on the provisional vote count, the Kurdistan Democratic Party received 809,197 votes, while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan obtained 408,141 votes. The New Generation Movement secured 290,911 votes, and the Kurdistan Islamic Union received 116,981 votes. Komal garnered 64,710 votes, Helwest gained 55,775 votes, and the People’s Front collected 33,365 votes. Gorran concluded with 11,621 votes. Voter turnout was reported at 72% of those registered with biometrics, although this did not include all eligible voters.

At the first session, the head of the parliamentary office will invite the eldest member to chair the session, who will oversee the swearing-in ceremony and the election of the parliamentary presidency. 76-year-old Mohammed Sulaiman Mohammed, the head of the opposition New Generation List in Sulaymaniyah,  is expected to take this role.

Seat counts have not yet been finalized, but preliminary estimates suggest the KDP will secure 38 to 40 seats, a slight decline from its 45 seats in 2018. The PUK is expected to see a modest increase from its previous 21 seats, while the New Generation Movement is projected to be the biggest gainer, with 15 seats, nearly doubling its 2018 total.

Article 11 of the internal bylaws confirms that the eldest member’s sole responsibility as speaker pro tempore will be to oversee the session and the election of the parliamentary leadership.

Individual MPs will then take their oaths with a pledge to protect the interests of the people of Kurdistan, its unity, dignity, and citizens’ rights and freedoms. Members who do not take the oath correctly will be asked to retake it before assuming their parliamentary duties.

Following the oath-taking ceremony, the election of the speaker, deputy speaker, and secretary of parliament will take place. If two candidates for a position receive the same number of votes, a second round of voting will occur. If the tie persists, the selection will be determined by drawing lots. If only one candidate stands for a position, they will assume the role without a vote.

Once the oath ceremony is complete, members are expected to begin their duties. Attendance will be recorded, and any member absent twice without valid justification will face a 5% salary deduction. If a member misses three consecutive sessions or five sessions at different times without a reason, their name will be publicly posted on the parliamentary website. If the absences continue, the speaker has the authority to bring the issue of suspending the member’s position before the assembly. However, members who boycott sessions as a form of protest are not considered absent under these rules.

The internal bylaws of the Kurdistan Parliament outline a rigorous structure for managing parliamentary operations, though adherence to these rules can vary. While the bylaws mandate the election of the parliamentary leadership in the first session, past instances have seen delays, sometimes lasting months, as political parties negotiate over key leadership roles.