Kurdistani Parties Unite in Kirkuk to Reclaim Marginalized Quotas and Protect Rights
At a Glance
- Kurdistani parties gathered in Kirkuk, issuing a joint declaration on shared positions.
- Parties pledged to reclaim marginalized local administrative quotas.
- The summit marks a strategic shift to protect rights and improve livelihoods.
The meeting of Kurdistani political parties in Kirkuk concluded, reaffirming cross-party solidarity regarding legitimate Kurdish rights and stressing unified action to reclaim marginalized local administrative quotas and protect territorial rights.
Key Statements and Focus Areas
- Rawand Mala Mahmoud, head of the PUK Headquarters in Kirkuk, told reporters: "The meeting was held so that the parties in the city of Kirkuk could properly respond to the demands of our people."
- Mahmoud elaborated on their unified approach, stating, "We will try to resolve all upcoming issues together."
- He said that alongside the other ethnic components, they aim to improve the lives and livelihoods of the people and resolve critical local issues, such as farmers' rights.
- Sirwan Sayyid Asi, head of the KDP's 3rd branch in Kirkuk, told a press conference: The matter of the members' return to the Kirkuk Provincial Council is "to serve our people and was not for positions and privileges."
- Asi added that a new situation of reform has emerged in Iraq, noting that the demands of the council members were the driving reason for returning to the meetings.
The parties, which convened at the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in the city, issued a joint declaration on Wednesday in which they addressed several current political issues and common positions.
The joint statement noted that “a comprehensive dialogue” took place, with all parties reaching “a common stance.”
According to the statement, these meetings will continue as needed and will be hosted sequentially at the headquarters of different Kurdish political factions in the governorate.
The political factions reaffirmed “the solidarity of all parties regarding the legitimate rights of the Kurds.”
The parties committed to exerting serious efforts "to reclaim the positions and posts that were previously part of the Kurdish quota in the governorate's local administration but have since been marginalized."
“Naturally, this effort will only be realized through the unity and joint stance of the Kurdistan parties,” the statement emphasized.
The officials added that the local population's demand for “a spirit of unity and harmony” among Kirkuk’s political factions must be fully respected and prioritized.
“It must never be considered to fracture the Kurdish home for the sake of an administrative post or narrow partisan interests, which ultimately results in a rift between factions—causing both the loss of positions and the dissatisfaction of our public and supporters,” the statement added.
Furthermore, the parties highlighted the necessity of respecting the Kurdish majority's voice and honoring their voters, stating, “No agreement should be made with other components of Kirkuk that would ultimately worry the Kurdish political street or fracture Kurdish unity.”
“The national cause for us Kurds in the Kurdish areas outside the [Kurdistan] Region is a dispute over land with the authority; therefore, we must remain aligned in thought and stance so we can protect the achievements of our people,” they said.
The factions further underlined that maintaining unity and harmony among Kurdistan's political groups "is a loyalty to the blood of our martyrs," adding that "victory belongs to our collective will."
FYI:
This step follows more than eight years of severe political division among Kurdish parties in Kirkuk.
The collapse of the former "Brotherhood" alliance forced Kurdish factions to contest subsequent elections on competing, separate lists.
As a result, this fragmentation severely weakened their collective influence and prevented them from forming a unified parliamentary bloc to protect their interests.
Amid these standoffs, a power-sharing rotation took place in Kirkuk as Mohammed Samaan Agha of the Iraqi Turkmen Front was elected as the new governor on April 16, replacing the PUK's Rebwar Taha.
This transition sparked immediate political tensions throughout the year, fueled by street protests from opposing Kurdish factions and a boycott from the KDP.
The meeting also coincides with the KDP officially ending its nearly two-year boycott of the 16-member Kirkuk Provincial Council. Party leaders stated they are returning to fulfill an oversight role and drive governance reforms.
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