KIRKUK, Iraq — The Kirkuk Provincial Council held its second session on Monday since its formation on August 10, 2024. The agenda featured a vote on local bylaw amendments, the establishment of council committees, and the appointment of a new first deputy governor.
Yawz Hamid, representing the Turkmen community, was elected as the first deputy governor during the session. The meeting was attended by the council head, the chairperson, and seven members, reaching the required quorum for decision-making. Additionally, committee heads were named, and the council appointed mayors for the Hawija, Dubz, and Daquq districts—all positions went to the Arab community.
Prior to the session, the Turkmen Front faction, which includes two members, refuted claims about nominating a candidate for the deputy governor role. They criticized the council’s formation, labeling it illegitimate and pending a ruling from the Iraqi Federal Court on the matter.
The Arab Alliance, comprising three members, also condemned the meeting as “unlawful,” citing the absence of most Arab and Turkmen members. They warned that proceeding with council decisions amid legal uncertainties could harm Kirkuk’s delicate multi-ethnic balance.
The session took place without the participation of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the Turkmen Front faction, and some Arab representatives, who previously described the council as “illegal” and accused it of “exclusionary tactics.” The disputed session was held at Baghdad’s Rashid Hotel.
On August 10, nine out of 16 council members convened in Baghdad, nearly eight months post-election, to form the local government. The Turkmen Front, certain Arab representatives, and the KDP have criticized the formation as “illegal and problematic.”
Kirkuk Provincial Council struggles to fill key positions one month after formation