After a two-year delay, and months of wrangling, the Kurdistan Region held its parliamentary elections on October 20.

The KDP and the PUK emerged as the first and second largest parties from the October polls, gaining 39 and 23 seats respectively.

 

The two parties appear poised to form the government, as most of the other parties have already declared their opposition. The KDP and the PUK, which administratively run the Erbil, Duhok, and Sulaimani provinces, respectively, have already held two rounds of talks on government formation, with leaders from both sides describing the meetings as “positive”.

 

The KDP and PUK could realistically form the next cabinet without the inclusion of any other parties as they make up more than half of the legislature. Combined with the five minority quota seats, the winners of which are already believed to be affiliated with either of the two parties, the KDP and the PUK would have 67 lawmakers on their side, allowing them to pass or deny any legislation in the parliament with a two-thirds majority.

 

The PUK has reportedly told the KDP that it eyes the post of the Kurdistan Region president, with Qubad Talabani, the current deputy prime minister, being their potential candidate for the position, according to sources close to the parties.

 

The post of the president of the Kurdistan Region has traditionally been held by the KDP.

 

In addition to the presidency, the PUK has also demanded three top ministries: interior, natural resources, and municipalities, the New Region has learned.

 

The Kurdistan Region’s newly-elected members of parliament were sworn in early December, officially commencing their legislative duties. By law, the lawmakers were supposed to elect a speaker during the first session, but the vote was not carried out due to failure to reach the legal quorum.

 

Both parties, and the New Generation Movement, have submitted candidates for the post of parliament speaker, but a session to vote on the position has yet to be announced.