ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Last month’s parliamentary elections in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan Region appear to have created divisions among opposition parties, which are voicing separate opinions about participation in the next government coalition.

Since its 24-seat win in the September 21 polls, the leading opposition Change Movement (Gorran) is girding to replace its rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Any coalition would include the dominant Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which swept the polls with 38 seats and will retain its partnership in the KRG.

“Every political party’s goal is to reach power and use that power to implement its agenda,” said Kardo Muhammad, the head of Gorran’s parliamentary group. “I certainly see taking the government or joining a coalition in government as more of a positive thing,” he added.

Before the polls, Gorran leader Nawshirwan Mustafa had told the party to prepare for a place in government.

Following its foundation in 2009 and winning 25 parliamentary seats that same year, Gorran declined calls to join the government and went into opposition.

Since then Gorran, the Islamic Union and Islamic League (Komal) have acted more-or-less as a united opposition. Now, while the Islamic Union and Komal want to continue the opposition alliance, Gorran wants a chance to act on its reformist agenda.

“I think it is better if the opposition groups join a broad-based government,” said Omar Abdulaziz, head of the Islamic Union parliamentary group.

Abdulaziz, whose party won only nine places in the 111-seat regional parliament, said that opposition groups should act in concert. “It is better than going their separate ways,” said Abdulaziz, whose party also is eyeing ministerial posts.

Komal leaders also have been contemplating a continuation of their opposition role.

“I think it is important to have an opposition in Kurdistan,” said Aram Qadir, head of Komal’s parliamentary bloc. “It doesn’t matter which party it is.” He said that a strong watchdog is necessary to speak out against the official corruption that is widely accepted to be prevalent in government institutions.

Most political groups have bowed to the results of last month’s elections, though Komal leaders believe there were great irregularities at the polls and have filed complaints with the Election Commission.



RUDAW