MESOPOTAMIA NEWS REPORTS : SOUTH KURDISTAN (IRAQ) – PUK Threatening to Reject Election Results

PUK = THE TEHRAN BRANCH IN KURDISTAN

Basnews English –  08/10/2018 – 17:14 – ERBIL — The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) is now threatening to reject the results of the recent Kurdistan Region parliamentary election if the number of its seats declines to 15, which is now possible.

The Kurdistan Independent High Electoral Commission (KIHEC) announced the initial results of 85% of counted ballots earlier this week, saying that the other 15% would be announced after the scrutinization of complaints and reports on fraud and irregularities.

Polling stations in Sulaymaniyah province, where the PUK is dominant, are said to be where the widespread frauds were registered. It could significantly affect PUK’s results if frauds are proven. The party is initially said to have won 21 seats at the new parliament, while it could shrink to 15 after the investigation of suspicious ballot boxes.

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leading member, Ali Awni, agrees with the argumentation, saying that the PUK has recently held meetings with the Change Movement (Gorran), New Generation, and Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) to prepare the ground for the rejection of the election results if its fraud is revealed and the number of seats won decline. “Even in Baghdad, the PUK has been trying to persuade the Iraqi central government not to recognize the legitimacy of Kurdistan electoral commission for organizing last year’s independence referendum in Kurdistan,” Awni told BasNews.He further explained that, however, if the PUK finds 21 seats secured, it will certainly show no objection to the results of the election. Awni claims that the plot thereafter would be to bargain more government positions for the PUK, even more than what it deserves according to its electoral gains.