At a Glance

• The New Generation Movement has conditioned the reactivation of parliament on the opposition assuming legislative leadership.

• Kurdawan Jamal said the executive and legislative branches should not be controlled by the same ruling parties.

• The bloc demanded that the Kurdistan Democratic Party relinquish its legislative positions to resolve the ongoing political impasse.

The New Generation Movement bloc head affirmed that the opposition is ready to reactivate the Kurdistan Region parliament on the condition that it assumes the parliamentary leadership from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

Key Statements and Focus Area

• New Generation’s Kurdawan Jamal stated, "If the KDP is telling the truth and truly cares about Kurdistan, then let them step forward and relinquish their parliamentary positions."

• A political impasse remains ongoing over government formation and the distribution of institutional power in the Kurdistan Region following the October 2024 parliamentary elections.

New Generation Movement bloc head Kurdawan Jamal stated on Thursday that the opposition is ready to reactivate the legislature, “provided that the parliamentary presidency bureau is held by the opposition, rather than the KDP.”

“It is unacceptable for the government, executive authority, and parliament to all be controlled by the exact same parties that form the government,” Jamal emphasized.

Marking two years since the legislative elections, the New Generation Movement earlier blamed “certain political parties” for steering the Kurdistan Region toward political collapse.

The bloc stated that the public's hope for change remains unfulfilled but declared its practical readiness to immediately reactivate the deadlocked parliament if rival factions demonstrate the same political will. 

In a statement to Channel8 yesterday, the U.S. State Department confirmed that Washington is maintaining private diplomatic discussions with its partners in the Kurdistan Region. 

The spokesperson highlighted that the United States remains dedicated to supporting partners across the nation who are working to establish a sovereign, stable, and prosperous Iraq.

Meanwhile, Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani has cautioned that ongoing delays in forming the new Kurdistan Regional Government risk becoming a “black eye” for the region, noting that international partners are growing increasingly discouraged by the protracted deadlock.

FYI

The current political impasse in the Kurdistan Region stems directly from the October 20, 2024 parliamentary elections, where the Kurdistan Democratic Party won 39 seats and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan secured 23 seats in the 100-seat legislature. Because neither party achieved an absolute majority, they have failed to reach a power-sharing consensus, leaving the region under a prolonged caretaker administration. 

Earlier this year, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the New Generation Movement aligned to coordinate their positions in parliament as a unified negotiating bloc. 

By combining their respective legislative seats, this alliance controls a total of 38 seats, matching the primary ruling party's influence. During the ongoing coalition negotiations, both factions formally announced that they would only bargain with the Kurdistan Democratic Party as a single, unified package.

The main political factions continue to maintain distinct and conflicting strategic stances regarding the resolution of this deadlock. 

The Kurdistan Democratic Party has repeatedly called for the immediate reactivation of parliament and the election of a speakership board, but it firmly rejects negotiating with the opposition-ruling alliance as a single bloc, insisting on treating them as separate entities. 

The Kurdistan Democratic Party has called for the immediate reactivation of parliament based on the electoral results, insisting on negotiating with other factions as separate entities rather than a combined bloc. 

Meanwhile, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan has focused its platform on establishing a true governing partnership, demanding a comprehensive restructuring of the Region's power-sharing framework and a rebalance of key institutional portfolios.

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