ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday congratulated residents of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region for the completion of voting for the parliamentary elections, expressing hope that elected candidates will uphold the Region’s status and its people’s constitutional rights.

“I congratulate the people of Iraq in general and the people of Kurdistan in particular, and thank them for participating in this process, fulfilling their national rights and duties, and electing their representatives,” the premier said in a statement.

Barzani conveyed hope that the vote and trust of the voters would be “respected,” urging elected candidates to “be true representatives of the people and advocate for the constitutional rights of the people of Kurdistan, the status of the Kurdistan Region, and the interests of all Iraqi citizens.”

In addition to these appeals, he hoped that the results would bear a new era of a “federal and democratic Iraq” that secures “all the legitimate rights” of the Kurdistan Region’s residents and strengthens the Region’s position.

Furthermore, the premier highlighted the constitution as the main framework to reach a “fundamental resolution” to the disagreements between Erbil and Baghdad.

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 opened at 7:00 am and closed at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, with results scheduled to be announced within 24 hours following the closure of ballots.