MESOPOTAMIA NEWS UPDATE & OUTLOOK : ELECTIONS IN IRAQ & KURDS

4 Sept 2018 – MESOP NEWS – Despite plans to hold the Kurdistan Parliament elections on September 30, it’s unclear whether the process will take place due to the request of postponement by the majority of the Kurdish parties except for the Democratic Party of Kurdistan (KDP). During a meeting the deputy secretary of KDP Nechirvan Barzani, Barham Salih the head of the newly formed Coalition for Democracy and Justice (CDJ) announced boycotting the upcoming elections due to issues with the voters’ list and the electoral commission. Last week several meetings took place between the Kurdish parties to discuss the elections and the formation of the new Iraqi Government. As of Tuesday the largest Kurdish bloc at the Iraqi parliament was formed between the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). The Kurdish bloc did not side with any major coalitions to form the next Iraqi cabinet due to disagreements over Kirkuk and the disputed territories. However, a Kurdish opposition party of the New Generation joined Iraq’s prime minister’s coalition. Further, the U.S. envoy to counter ISIS and the U.S. Ambassador have held several meetings with the Kurdish parties to convince them to join Abadi’s coalition against more anti-west coalition supported merely by Iran.  More via www.mesop.de