UNAMI advises PUK and KDP on minority seats

PUKMEDIA

Heads of PUK and KDP factions in the Kurdistan Parliament

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) met in the presence of a UNAMI delegation to discuss the problem of elections and stressed the completion of the electoral law amendments, particularly the issue of minority seats.

The head of the PUK faction in the Kurdistan Parliament, Ziad Jabar, stated in a press conference following the meeting: "We are working with the KDP to amend the electoral law and if the process moves slowly, the aim is to amend the law in a way that pleases everyone."

"The PUK wants the Kurdish minorities to have full rights, and the minorities' seats are vital to the PUK, so we want the minorities' views to be reflected in the law," Jabar said.

"A UNAMI delegation participated in today's meeting to present their suggestions on the minority seats to both sides in the coming days," he continued. "We will take their proposals into consideration, as the PUK wants to amend the law as quickly as possible to hold elections on schedule."

"We stressed the implementation of the points of our earlier talks with the PUK," said Zana Mala Khalid, the head of the KDP faction in the Kurdistan Parliament. "We want to present the amendment to parliament as soon as possible."

Khalid added, "We concur with the PUK that the views of the minorities and the suggestions of the UNAMI delegation should be taken into consideration for the minority seats and have their comments on the electoral law.

Bafel Jalal Talabani, the president of PUK, suggested the meetings of the PUK Election Agency and the KDP Election Bureau in order to amend the electoral legislation and hold elections that are favorable to the people and parties.



PUKMEDIA