KDP sends lawmakers to Baghdad to 'fight' for Kurdistan's rights: Deputy president

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Deputy President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Masrour Barzani said on Thursday that they send representatives to the Iraqi parliament to "fight for the rights of the people of Kurdistan," during his party's rally in Erbil for the November legislative vote.

 

"Our representatives in Baghdad will advocate for the rights of all components," Barzani, who is also the prime minister of the Kurdistan Region, told his party's supporters.

 

Barzani hailed Iraq's parliamentary elections as "crucial" and said "we must go to Baghdad to fight to achieve the constitutional rights of the people."

 

Campaigning for Iraq’s November elections began on October 3 and will continue until November 8. Security forces and special voters will cast their ballots on November 9, followed by the general election on November 11.

 

Under 'Partnership, Balance, and Agreement," ruling KDP officially on Sunday launched its campaigning for the November vote, in an event where President Masoud Barzani delivered a speech, urging a "calm" campaigning.

 

The deputy president of the KDP said his party eyes maintaining "stronger relations" with other sides in Baghdad in order to "implement the Constitution, to achieve all the rights of the people of Kurdistan."

 

"The KDP representatives must defend the rights of all Iraqi components, and defend the rights of the oppressed. Our representatives must go there to serve justice."

 

Barzani reiterated his call on the KDP supporters to campaign "in a peaceful and civilized way."

 

Barzani's comments came hours after the office of a Yazidi candidate running on the KDP's ticket for the November legislative elections, was set ablaze in Shingal, Nineveh province by unidentified individuals at dawn.

 

The KDP has traditionally had the strongest fan base in Erbil, Duhok, and Nineveh provinces.

 

Of a total of 175 names, KDP has 30 candidates in Erbil, who vye for the province's 16 seats.

 

The KDP currently has 31 representatives in the Iraqi parliament, the highest among all the Kurdish parties in the Kurdish Region, followed by Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's (PUK) 17.