ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Kurdistan Region’s ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is set to end its boycott of the Iraqi parliament by attending the next parliamentary session after more than two weeks of absence, a party lawmaker said Wednesday, describing the move as conditional and tied to guarantees for protecting the Region’s rights.

On April 18, the KDP announced that it will boycott all future sessions of the Iraqi parliament indefinitely, in light of the legislature’s decision to proceed with the Iraqi presidential election despite what it termed the absence of a national consensus. 

Following the boycott, the Iraqi parliament formed a delegation to visit Erbil and meet with the KDP’s leadership and parliamentary bloc to persuade the party to end its boycott of the legislature. 

Sherwan al-Dubardany, a member of the Iraqi parliament from the KDP bloc, told The New Region on Wednesday that the bloc will return to Baghdad next week and participate in parliament sessions to vote on the cabinet of Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi.

Another parliamentarian from the KDP bloc in Baghdad also confirmed the reports to The New Region, saying the KDP will be “returning to Baghdad to vote on Zaidi’s cabinet,” while noting that a formal announcement on the matter is expected to be released “shortly.”

A Coordination Framework meeting set to finalize the proposed cabinet will be held on Wednesday night.

The KDP source also indicated that “a good understanding” has been reached between the KDP and Iraqi politicians following recent visits to Erbil, describing “thorough discussions between senior KDP officials and Iraq’s political parties regarding the formation of the new government.” 

On Saturday, Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi arrived in Erbil and held meetings with top Kurdish leaders.

Zaidi met with President Masoud Barzani and later Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, with talks focusing on discussing government formation efforts and emphasizing "the importance of unifying views and positions,” with joint efforts to confront obstacles and overcome crises in the next cabinet. 

The KDP has agreed to end its boycott in Baghdad on conditions of protecting “the legitimate demands of the Kurds and the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region,” the source said. 

The ruling party’s demands include resolving the salary issue, passing the oil and gas law, and ensuring the Kurdistan Region is included in development efforts.

Tensions between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad have simmered over the past year, with federal budgetary allocations, Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, and oil revenues having frequently been points of contention.

Earlier in April, the KDP, the State of Law Coalition, and the Hoquq Movement boycotted the session where Iraq’s new president was elected, citing continued disputes and the absence of a unified position on who should assume the key role.