ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday urged the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) candidates to protect the Region’s constitutional rights in the Iraqi parliament during a campaign rally in the northwestern city of Duhok.

"It is our brothers' and sisters' duty to protect the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region in Baghdad. This is the first duty and the first message," said Prime Minister Barzani, who is also a deputy KDP leader.

The KDP on Sunday launched its electoral campaign for Iraq’s parliamentary elections on November 11, coming after a year chock-full of tensions between Erbil and Baghdad due to oil exports and the payment of the Kurdistan Region's civil servant salaries.

Barzani stated that many obstacles were set before the Kurdistan Region in an attempt to undermine its progress. “Despite all those plans and crises, not only did we not stop, but we progressed.” 

“We have been with the people of Kurdistan through thick and thin, and we are here to serve the people of Kurdistan, and this is what distinguishes us from other parties,” he continued. “We want to achieve the greatest success across Iraq.”

The Iraqi government’s finance ministry in May decided to suspend funding the Kurdistan Region’s civil servant salaries, arguing that the Region had already exhausted its share of the annual budget. At the time of writing of this article, despite the reaching of an agreement between Erbil and Baghdad, public sector employees are yet to receive their dues for the months of August and September.

“It is very important that we have a strong presence and strong participation in the place where constitutional rights need to be protected, and all constitutional provisions must be fulfilled,” he stressed.

"Our lives, and all of our strength and might, have been partially to serve you and partially to face the schemes and programs that have been devised against you," Barzani said. "I am confident that the KDP will again achieve a great victory."

Campaigning for the federal parliament began Friday with over 7,750 competing for the 329 seats allocated across the provinces under a proportional representation system.

Iraq’s last parliamentary elections in October 2021 saw a record low turnout amid widespread public frustration.