According to preliminary figures from the Region’s electoral commission, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has emerged as the largest party with 45 seats – obtaining more than twice as many seats as any of its rivals.
It is 11 seats short of an absolute majority but enjoys close ties with the majority of the 11 representatives who took the seats reserved for minorities.
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has secured 21 seats to become parliament’s second biggest party.
Gorran secured 12 seats, slipping into third place.
New Generation won 8 spots, taking up seats in the regional parliament for the first time.
The Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU)/Kurdistan Islamic Movement (IMK) joint list of Toward Reform secured five seats and the Kurdistan Islamic Group (Komal) garnered seven seats.
The Sardam (Modern) alliance won one seat. The alliance consists of the Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party, the Kurdistan Workers’ and Toilers’ Party, and the Nation Democratic Union of Kurdistan.
The Communist party's Azadi or Liberty list also secured one seat.
The results may change as the election commission investigates 425 complaints.
Opposition parties have threatened to reject the results and boycott the Kurdistan Region parliament if the election commission fails to convincingly address allegations of widespread fraud and abuse.
There are 111 seats in the regional legislature. Eleven of them are reserved for Turkmen and Christian minorities.
