KIRKUK, Iraq — As the deadline to form a new local government approaches on Sunday, Kirkuk’s political parties remain at an impasse. Despite nearly eight months since the local elections, negotiations among the province’s political blocs have not yielded an agreement on electing a new governor for the multi-ethnic city.
The Kirkuk Provincial Council is divided between two major blocs. The first consists of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the Turkmen Front, and four Arab members. The second includes the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), a Christian member, and two Arab members. Neither bloc has managed to secure the necessary support to break the deadlock.
Ahmad Kirkuki, a PUK member of the Kirkuk Provincial Council, confirmed to Zoom News’ Aram Jamal that no agreement has been reached. He emphasized the importance of his party’s involvement in any political decision.
Meanwhile, a member of the Arab bloc indicated progress in negotiations with allies from the Turkmen Front and the KDP. Salwa Mafaji, representing the Arab bloc, stated, “Our positions and views with our allies from the KDP and Turkmen Front are closely aligned. Despite this, we have also sought to engage with the PUK. Every political party understands that Kirkuk belongs to everyone, therefore, no component should be marginalized for the benefit of others.”
Ahmad Ramzi, a Turkmen Front member, also expressed optimism about reaching an agreement before the legal deadline on Sunday.
The stakes are high for Kirkuk, as the end of the legal timeframe looms. The province participated in Iraq’s provincial elections on December 18, 2023, for the first time in 18 years, along with 15 other Iraqi provinces, excluding the Kurdistan Region.
In the elections, no party or alliance won a majority of Kirkuk’s 16 seats. The distribution of seats was as follows: Kurds secured 7 seats (PUK with five and KDP with two), Arabs won 5 seats, and Turkmen obtained 2 seats. This complex power distribution has complicated the election of a new governor and the formation of a government, even under a rotational system.
As Kirkuk’s political parties work against the clock, the outcome of their negotiations will determine the province’s political landscape and stability in the coming years.
Reporting by Aram Jamal, Zoom News reporter in Kirkuk.
