ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) on Tuesday declared that the party cannot form an alliance in the Iraqi parliament with entities upholding a sectarian, nationalist, and religious mindset.

“Those who gain trust from the ballot boxes must have faith in the constitution and abandon the mentality that Iraq is governed by national, sectarian, and religious mentalities. We cannot form an alliance with those [who hold such views],” Mahmoud Mohammed, KDP spokesperson, told reporters after casting his ballot on Tuesday.

Mohammed asserted that the Iraqi Constitution “must be implemented and made the basis for resolving issues” facing the country.

Speeches held by top leaders from the party during election rallies often emphasized the importance of implementing the constitution, especially regarding Article 140, which Kurdish authorities view as fundamental to resolving the issues concerning the disputed territories.

Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution mandates a process to outline a clear and definitive boundary in the disputed areas by introducing a referendum to determine the will of the residents living on the lands. The implementation of the article has been continuously delayed by the Iraqi government.

The article also requires the reversal of the Arabization policies introduced by the former Baathist regime.

In his speech addressing a campaign rally in Erbil on October 25, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani criticized certain political “sides” for evading parts of the constitution that don’t serve their interests.

Over 7,000 polling stations opened across Iraq for more than 20 million eligible voters early Tuesday morning. A total of 7,743 candidates, comprised of 5,496 males and 2,247 females, are running for the legislature’s 329 seats.

Polling stations are set to close at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, with results scheduled to be announced within 24 hours of the closure of ballots.