IHEC Approves Kurdistan Parliament's Seat Distribution

Kurdistan 11:35 AM - 2024-06-04

IHEC Logo with Kurdistan Parliament.

The Commissioners Board of the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has approved the re allocation of the five quota seats in the Kurdistan Parliament, dividing them among the provinces of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok.

The five seats are divided among the minority communities in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Duhok

The commissioners' decision states that Erbil province has a total of 34 seats, with two seats allocated for Christians and Turkmens, one for each community. Similarly, Sulaymaniyah province has a total of 38 seats, with two seats allocated for Christians and Turkmens, one for each community. Duhok province, on the other hand, has a total of 24 seats, with one seat allocated for Christians. 

However, the province of Halabja will remain unchanged, with none of its three seats set aside for ethnic communities.

Five of Kurdistan Parliament's 100 seats are designated as quota seats 

The Kurdistan Parliament initially consisted of a total of 111 seats, with 11 seats specifically designated for minority communities. These seats were not distributed among the provinces of the Kurdistan Region. The Federal Court of Iraq had earlier ruled to abolish the 11 quota seats in the Kurdistan Parliament, reducing the total number of seats from 111 to 100. However, the Judicial Board for Elections has concurred to reallocate five seats out of the 100 seats specifically for minority communities.

Minority Community candidates must be from the constituency where they reside

IHEC Spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai told PUKMEDIA: "As per the decision of the Commissioners Board, it is required that the candidate representing the communities reside in the constituency where they have been nominated. In the competition among the candidates representing the communities, the candidate who receives the highest number of votes will be declared the winner."

On the setting of a new date for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections, the IHEC Spokesperson stated: "We have asked the Kurdistan Region's President to set a new date for the sixth term of parliamentary elections, but we have not received any response from the Kurdistan Region's Presidency so far." 

The IHEC had previously suggested to the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region that the general elections be scheduled for September 5, 2024.



PUKMEDIA