Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian political parties reject seat distribution proposal by KRI Electoral Commission

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — The Independent High Electoral Commission in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) submitted a draft proposal to the federal court regarding quota seats for the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian component. According to the Commission, the five allocated seats would be divided, with two seats for Erbil, two for Sulaymaniyah, and one for Nohadra (Duhok), resulting in the election being conducted across three electoral centers.

However, this proposal was rejected by Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian political parties and public figures. Youssef Yacoub Matti, Co-Chair of the Bethnahrin Patriotic Union (Huyodo Bethnahrin Athroyo, HBA), demanded an increase in quota seats for the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people to 10, emphasizing that they should be counted based on both present citizens and emigrants, akin to Kurdish citizens.

Matti further advocated for considering the KRI as one center for the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people, highlighting their significant presence in Erbil and Nohadra, in contrast to Sulaymaniyah. Bassim Ballo, Head of Abnaa al-Nahrain Party, also rejected the proposal, citing its failure to represent the demographic presence of the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people.

“They are doing this under the pretext of the KRI geography,” said Ballo. “I wonder why a sixth seat was not given to the quota within the Iraqi parliament for Sulaymaniyah.”

The opinion of the Assyrian Democratic Movement was the same. Assyrian Democratic Movement Secretary Yacoub Gorgis announced the Movement’s rejection of the proposal to distribute seats based on the Kurdish citizens distribution, and not vice versa.

Gorgis pointed out that the proposed distribution is an encroachment on the right of the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people to equal and fair representation. He explained that these seats have been allocated to the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people since 1992 on the basis that all the KRI is considered as one center.

Gorgis hoped that the federal court will reconsider this issue and will keep the KRI as one center for quota seats and will limit voting only within the same ethnic component.