ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Politicians on Saturday made appeals to voters at rallies across the Kurdistan Region in the last days of campaigning before a crucial parliamentary election.
At a Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) rally in Duhok, the party’s two deputy leaders Nechirvan Barzani and Masrour Barzani urged voters to turn out on election day.
“This election is very important for Kurdistan, in order to renew the legitimacy of governance, victory for the Party [KDP] will ensure the rights of Kurdistan and its communities,” said Nechirvan Barzani, who is also president of the Kurdistan Region.
Masrour Barzani, who is also prime minister, called on supporters to vote for “experienced” people who can guide the Region through challenges.
“The future governance of the Kurdistan Region must be in the hands of people who have the trust of the Kurdistan Region people, have experience, do not bow down, are not afraid, and face every challenge head-on,” he said.
In the 2018 parliamentary elections, the KDP won the largest number of seats in the legislature, taking 45 out of 111 spots.
In Sulaimani’s independent Raparin administration, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) held a rally for supporters. Party leader Bafel Talabani’s speech was cut short soon after it began because of the pushing crowd.
“Due to the capacity crowd and your enthusiasm, a number of our loved ones were hurt and for the safety of everyone, we cut our speech short so that no other loved ones would experience discomfort,” Talabani said in a message on X following the rally.
“Your enthusiasm and sincere efforts for the success of the PUK list will not be forgotten... I will not leave you at any stage and together we will end the self-imposing authority,” he added.
The PUK, which secured 21 seats in the 2018 vote, formed an alliance government with the KDP and the Change Movement (Gorran).
The PUK is entering the elections following years of wrangling over who would succeed the late Jalal Talabani. In 2020, Bafel Talabani and his cousin Lahur Talabany were elected co-chairs. But a year later, Talabany was effectively ousted from power.
Talabany went on to form his own party, the People’s Front (Baray Gal), in January. On Saturday, he held a rally in Erbil, telling supporters that only his party can “stand against” both the KDP and the PUK.
“Struggling and standing against these two parties can only be done by us... can be done by Baray Gal,” Talabany said, and asked for the electorate’s support to “save” the Kurdistan Region from the ruling KDP and PUK.
The Kurdistan Region last held parliamentary elections in 2018. The October 20 vote was initially scheduled for 2022 but was delayed several times. Official campaigning ends on Tuesday. Nearly 2.9 million people are eligible to vote.