The long-postponed elections for the sixth parliament of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) took place on 20 October. While the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) emerged as the largest party, it saw a drop in its seat count from 45 to 40, leaving it unable to form a majority government. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) gained ground with 23 seats, while the New Generation Party made significant gains, securing 16 seats and nearly doubling its previous vote share.
The 100-seat parliament remains fragmented, with no one party able to secure an outright majority. This will necessitate coalition talks between the KDP and the PUK as well as other political forces. The KDP continued to dominate in Erbil (Hewlêr) and Duhok (Dihok), while the PUK led in Sulaymaniyah (Silêmanî) and Halabja (Helebce). The New Generation Party’s rise has shaken the political landscape, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with the region’s established parties.
The KDP’s loss of seats since its 2018 victory reflects the challenges it faces in maintaining its dominance, while the PUK’s moderate gains signal a shift in the balance of power. Analysts had predicted that no single party would emerge with a clear majority, and the results confirm a deeply divided political arena in Iraqi Kurdistan. Political analysts warn that the ability of the Kurdistan parliament to resolve these conflicts through negotiation rather than violence remains a concern as coalition talks loom large.
The Shams Election Monitoring Network issued a press statement about violations observed during the general voting process. They drew attention to the fact that many candidates were seen making election propaganda in violation of election day laws and regulations, and that several fights broke out between security forces, employees, political party representatives and voters. The Shams Network also reported that the electronic system used to read voters’ fingerprints failed several times during the day.
The Metro Center for Journalist Rights and Advocacy has reported that 30 violations against journalists, including 25 cases of obstruction, two cases of attacks on press teams and three cases of digital attacks took place during the two election rounds.
With a voter turnout of 72 percent, the final election results, including the special vote by the security forces, are expected to be announced later today. The KDP’s 761,000 votes and the PUK’s 400,000 votes are followed by the New Generation Party with over 277,000 votes, making it a new key player in potential coalition talks.
