ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has denounced the Iraqi parliament’s decree to scrap Peshmerga, IDP, and diaspora votes cast in the May 12 election, calling the move “unconstitutional and illegal.” The decision will cause instability, party officials warned.
The Iraqi parliament passed a bill on Wednesday ordering a full manual recount of all votes cast in the May 12 parliamentary election, the cancelation of all votes cast by IDPs, the diaspora, and the Kurdistan Region’s security personnel, and the suspension the electoral body, replacing independent commissioners with nine judges.
“Iraq is passing through an unstable situation, especially after it turned out for some participants running for the Iraqi Council of Representatives election had lost and the results did not turn in their favor,” the KDP warned in a statement released on Saturday. “Irrespective of the constitutions and laws, they led the process in a dangerous direction.”
The KDP came first among the Kurdish parties, securing 25 seats, followed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which won 18. They are the two traditionally dominant Kurdish parties in the Kurdistan Region.
The KDP said it is in favor of a manual recount of votes, not only in areas where complaints were filed, but across Iraq, to address the concerns of angry parties. “We still have the same stance and opinion,” the part said.
The KDP raised concerns over the annulment of the votes of Kurdish Peshmerga and IDPs, accusing the Iraqi parliament of “hijacking the protests of some parties.” It called the move illegal and warned it has put the political process in Iraq into a “complete deadlock.”
“The people of Kurdistan including all religious and national groups are fully entitled to exercise their constitutional rights to elect their representatives. Thus, nobody’s rights must be confiscated,” the KDP statement read.
“The Peshmerga and security forces are the courageous forces that defended the people of Kurdistan, Iraq, and the world and made a lot of sacrifices. Instead of paying them back, the Council of Representatives has decreed to cancel their votes.”
The KDP reiterated it would not tolerate the move as it is “unconstitutional and illegal.”
The cancellation of IDP votes, including those of Yezidis and the diaspora, “must be dealt with per the constitution and law, not the interests of some parties and persons.”
Political parties from Iraq and the Kurdistan Region met at Salam Palace in Baghdad on Saturday to discuss the situation, specifically recent election outcomes, but there was no immediate consensus reached.
In a similar call, the PUK called for Iraq’s top court to step in to resolve legal and constitutional issues surrounding Iraq’s election debacle and warned against “unwanted events” if the matter is not resolved quickly.
Six dissatisfied parties from the Kurdistan Region, not including the KDP and PUK, expressed support for the recount.
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