Kurdistan Democratic Party Dominates Amid Economic Strife

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has emerged as the leading political force in the Iraqi Kurdish parliamentary elections, securing 809,197 votes. This development was announced following preliminary results shared by Iraq's electoral commission.

The commission reported a 72% turnout among registered voters, but emphasized that the results remain provisional pending the resolution of election complaints. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), historically seen as a rival and governmental coalition partner of the KDP, holds the second spot with 408,141 votes, trailed by the New Generation opposition party with 290,991 votes.

The elections transpired amidst an economic crisis, attributed to the halted oil exports—a primary income source for the Kurdistan region. The suspension stemmed from a March 2023 decision by Turkey, following an International Chamber of Commerce ruling demanding it pays Baghdad $1.5 billion for unauthorized KRG oil exports. This situation has exacerbated fiscal difficulties, delaying public sector salaries and slashing essential services. Initially scheduled for 2022, these elections encountered several delays due to KDP-PUK disagreements.