KDP deputy leaders push development record in final week of campaign

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) First Deputy Leader Nechirvan Barzani and Second Deputy Leader Masrour Barzani, stepped up their campaigning efforts on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming federal legislative elections, underlining the importance of popular support and pledging to build on their party’s record of development as the ballot approaches in just seven days.

“Greetings, respect, and love from the depths of my heart and my brother Masrour’s to everyone,” Nechirvan Barzani told the crowd, expressing his “great pride” in belonging to “a party with such dedicated and loyal supporters.”

Highlighting the legacy of KDP President Masoud Barzani, who “taught us to work hard and speak little,” Nechirvan Barzani underscored the importance of the discipline and strong performance that define the party.

The KDP officially launched its campaign in mid-October under the slogan “Partnership, Balance, and Consensus.” In the last federal elections, held in October 2021, the party won 31 seats in Iraq’s parliament. This election, with 175 candidates across Iraq, marks the KDP’s largest list to date.

“The KDP was founded to serve the people… our goal is to serve our nation and its citizens,” Nechirvan Barzani said, further praising the party’s Second Deputy Leader and Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, for his leadership and progress in improving public services despite ongoing challenges.

“[Masrour Barzani], as the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) - our Prime Minister - has ensured that the provision of services to the people of Kurdistan continues despite all the challenges and obstacles faced and those yet to come,” he said.

Under Masrour Barzani’s premiership, the KRG launched major service initiatives, including the Runaki (Light) project - a 24-hour electricity program rolled out in October 2024.

On Thursday, Erbil’s electricity ministry said the service now reaches around 4.5 million residents across the Region, including more than 1.3 million in the Region’s eastern Sulaimani province. Water infrastructure projects are also set to expand to Sulaimani.

Echoing prior KDP statements this election season, Nechirvan Barzani reiterated Tuesday the Region’s constitutional rights “have been violated,” stressing the party’s commitment to federalism and upholding the constitution.

Kurdish leaders from both the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have repeatedly accused Baghdad of violating the Iraqi constitution - a message that has emerged central to both parties’ ongoing electoral campaigns.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also addressed the crowd in Duhok, thanking Nechirvan Barzani and urging support for his party’s message.

“I thank my brother Nechirvan Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region, for his lovely speech. That is the KDP message, and he delivered it on our behalf to all of you. We hope you all support the KDP message,” he said.

“We have continued with development and have never stopped,” he noted, adding, “Our obligation is to serve the people of the Kurdistan Region. There have been many programs to grow the Kurdistan Region’s economy.”

Dilshad Shahab, a Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) central committee member and spokesperson for Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, told Rudaw on Tuesday that the ‘one million votes and more’ campaign - championed by Nechirvan Barzani - “has heated up not only the KDP’s campaign, but also the campaign of the Arab parties.”

Farhad Atrushi, leader of the KDP list in Duhok, said Tuesday, “What is obvious and no one doubts that the KDP has a lot of voters in Duhok province, previously we had more than 402,000 votes in Duhok.”

“The PUK wants to secure half a million or more in Duhok, but we are thinking realistically,” he added.

Duhok has 779,000 eligible voters for the Iraqi parliamentary election and 12 seats, with one reserved for the Christian quota. A total of 59 lists and independent candidates are competing in the province.