Shafaq News/ The upcoming electionsfor the Kurdistan Region’s parliament on October 20 are set to be a watershedmoment for political forces, as they will be conducted under the supervision ofIraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) for the first time,offering a fresh opportunity for opposition representation and reshaping thepolitical landscape.
Journalist Dilovan Barwari pointedout the significance of this election, noting, "This is an important eventfor all political entities, especially for the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), as it will be overseen by IHEC, abody not part of the Kurdish political fabric." Previous elections facedcriticism, particularly from opposition groups, over allegations of bias by theKurdistan Region's electoral commission.
Barwari, in a statement to ShafaqNews, anticipated a close race between the KDP and PUK, with neither expectedto secure a decisive majority. “The gap between the leading parties will benarrower than in previous elections,” he said, adding that the results willrealistically reflect each party’s strength.
New Players Enter the Scene
Haifa Majid, head of the ShukhOrganization (Arabic: ???) for Women’sDevelopment, believed the election dynamics would shift with the participationof new political entities and independent candidates. “These elections will seeincreased competition and participation due to new political movements andindependents,” Majid told Shafaq News. The ruling KDP and PUK, she said, arefielding numerous candidates to maximize their vote share, while oppositionparties are being more selective in their choices to boost individual chances.
Al-Sulaymaniyah remains a criticalbattleground, despite Erbil being the capital, Majid explained.“Al-Sulaymaniyah has long been a hub for opposition movements like Gorran andNew Generation, and it’s expected to see fierce competition,” she added, highlightingthe emergence of two new movements, "Mawqif" and "JabhatAl-Shaab," alongside notable independent figures.
Majid also noted that while theKurdistan Islamic Union remains competitive in areas like Halabja and Duhok,smaller parties like Gorran have lost ground in recent years, and theirinfluence in this election is expected to diminish.
"The days of a single partydominating the Kurdistan Parliament are over," she said, noting that manynew voters are young, unemployed, or recent graduates, who have growing demandsthat traditional parties struggle to meet.
Opposition Seeks Gains
Former independent MP Abu BakrHildini viewed the elections as an opportunity for opposition parties to makesubstantial gains. "IHEC’s oversight ensures a fair process, providing achance for the people of Kurdistan to cast their votes freely," Hildinitold Shafaq News, predicting that opposition parties could secure between 40and 50 seats in the 100-seat parliament.
Election Integrity Emphasized
According to the IHEC, 136 politicalparties, alliances, and independent candidates have been approved toparticipate in the elections, with a total of 1,191 candidates, including 823men and 368 women. Five seats are reserved for minorities, including Turkmenand Christians.
Over 2.8 million voters are eligibleto participate in the elections, with around 2.6 million casting votes in thegeneral election and more than 251,000 security personnel participating in aspecial vote. The IHEC has also established polling stations outside the regionfor security forces in various governorates including Baghdad, Al-Anbar, andDiyala.
IHEC spokesperson Jumana Al-Ghalaystressed that voter confidentiality is guaranteed, and no one can determine whoa voter selects. "The vote is secret, and ballots do not include voternames," she said, adding that legal actions would be taken against anyattempts at voter intimidation, with penalties including fines and potentialimprisonment for violators.