MESOPOTAMIA NEWS DOCUMENTS – Kurdistan Regional Government – Representation in the United States / STATEMENT

Washington, D.C.May 2018 Newsletter  

This month Iraqis around the world voted in the federal parliamentary election. After a month of intense campaigning, by May 12 the diaspora, security forces, and civilians had cast their last ballots.I was fortunate enough to observe some of the campaigning and was able to cast my vote in Kurdistan. The campaigning was boisterous, colorful and more focused than in previous elections.

Governorates in Kurdistan had a higher percentages of voter turnout and, in addition to the long-standing traditional Kurdish parties, some new parties gained seats. There have been allegations from various quarters of fraud and tampering with the ballot. Ultimately, it is up to Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission to investigate the claims and address the complaints.

Now the conversation is moving beyond campaigning, to coalition-building and government formation. If Iraq is to succeed, the Constitution and the concept of power-sharing have to be our guiding lights. The next government will have to be one that reflects Iraq’s diversity and allows all of the country’s components access to the halls of power and a say in their prosperity and their future.

Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman

Kurdistan Regional Government – Representative to the United States