The objection from the Democratic Party of Kurdistan, led by Masoud Barzani, to the election of Nizar Amidi as president has introduced more complexity and ambiguity into the Kurdish political landscape, particularly within the broader Iraqi context. This came after Barzani urged party representatives in the federal government and parliament to return to Kurdistan "for consultations."
Kurdish sources close to the party accuse armed factions represented in parliament of "manipulating some of their members to achieve the quorum for the presidential election session," which requires a two-thirds majority, meaning the presence of 220 out of 329 deputies.
Details of the Event
The Iraqi parliament voted on Saturday with a two-thirds majority to elect Nizar Amidi, the candidate from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, as president. This followed a stalemate that lasted more than four months due to a lack of consensus between the two main Kurdish parties, alongside significant disagreements over the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Absent from the presidential election session, in addition to the Democratic Party, was the State of Law Coalition led by Nouri al-Maliki, reflecting further division and uncertainty within both the Kurdish and Shiite political spheres regarding the Coordination Framework forces.
Immediately after Amidi's election, the Democratic Party of Kurdistan confirmed that it would not recognize his election as president of Iraq, directing its representatives in the parliament and federal government to return to the Kurdistan region for consultations.
Context and Background
In a statement, the Democratic Party asserted that "the process of electing the president in the Iraqi parliament was conducted in a manner that violated the approved internal regulations of the council," indicating that the presidency of the parliament set the agenda for the session without regard for the internal rules.
The party also added that "the candidate designated for the presidency was outside the Kurdish mechanism, at a time when this position is considered a right for the people of Kurdistan, not for a specific party." The party emphasized that it does not recognize the person chosen in this manner as a representative of the Kurdish majority.
Political Consequences and Impact
Kurdish journalist Samman Noah believes that "the current stance of the Democratic Party and Kurdistan is unprecedented and complicates the situation in the region, which is facing major structural crises." The two parties have failed to form a new government for over a year and a half, and the parliament has been dysfunctional for years, exacerbating the difficult economic situation.
Writer and researcher Kifah Mahmoud pointed out that what occurred in the parliamentary session was a clear violation of the law, as there were not more than 180 deputies present in the session, while 220 deputies were required. He confirmed that this added further complexity to the political scene.
Impact on the Arab Region
Attention is turning to how these developments will affect relations among political forces in Iraq, particularly between the Kurds and Shiites. The resolution of the presidential position could influence future relations between the two sides, which were previously classified as "historically strategic".
With calls for the formation of a Kurdistan Regional Government, there is growing concern that these disputes may impact the interests of citizens, as the current situation necessitates swift action to form a government capable of addressing economic and security challenges.