Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has voiced strong support for Iraq’s upcoming national census, urging that the process be conducted impartially and remain free from political influence. His comments came during a meeting with France’s Ambassador to Iraq, Patrick Durel, in which they also discussed recent Kurdish parliamentary elections, government formation, and ongoing issues with the federal government.

Prime Minister Barzani highlighted the importance of the census as a development tool, stressing that it should not be used to influence the implementation of Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution or alter the status of disputed areas outside of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) administrative authority. He called for particular fairness in Kurdish-populated regions that have been affected by demographic shifts.

In a statement on his official Facebook page, Barzani noted that Ambassador Durel had congratulated him on the success of the Kurdish parliamentary elections. The French envoy emphasized the need for a strong, united government to address the challenges facing the Kurdistan Region and to continue serving its people.

The discussion between Barzani and Durel also covered unresolved issues between the KRG and Iraq's federal government, including securing the Kurdistan Region’s budget share and safeguarding its constitutional rights.

Iraq’s national census, scheduled for November 20-21, is expected to focus on gathering demographic data across the country, with Kurdish-populated areas anticipated to be a key topic of interest.