Masoud Barzani reiterates KDP boycott of elections amid Iraqi Federal Supreme Court decision to eliminate quota seats

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — Amidst the fallout from recent Iraqi Federal Supreme Court decision to eliminate quota seats for minorities in Kurdistan regional elections, Masoud Barzani, the head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), voiced staunch opposition to participating in the upcoming electoral process. Barzani, in a meeting with the British Ambassador to Iraq Stephen Hitchen, condemned the Court’s rulings as influenced by external agendas aimed at undermining his party.

Expressing deep concern over what he perceived as interference in Kurdistan’s electoral laws, Barzani accused the Federal Supreme Court of meddling with the region’s democratic processes, labeling such actions as part of foreign schemes targeting the KDP’s integrity. Emphasizing his party’s pivotal role in facilitating the transition from revolutionary legitimacy to legal legitimacy, Barzani underscored its historical precedence in electoral victories.

In defiance of the court’s decisions, Barzani asserted his party’s refusal to comply with what he deemed unconstitutional mandates, contending that the court had overstepped its jurisdiction by encroaching upon legislative and executive prerogatives. He reiterated the party’s commitment to upholding constitutional principles, asserting its legitimate demands within the framework of law to ensure the integrity and transparency of elections.

In response, Ambassador Hitchen underscored the pivotal role of the KDP in the political landscape, stressing the imperative of its participation in regional elections. He further conveyed his country’s unwavering support for facilitating discussions aimed at ensuring the conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.