ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Kurdistan parliament convened its first session in nearly two years, electing the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) Vala Fareed as speaker, Christian quota representative Ramy Noori as deputy speaker, and Turkmen representative Muna Kahveci as parliament secretary, after establishing legal quorum owing to major party defections.

Sources from inside the parliament hall told The New Region that at least 52 lawmakers were in attendance to hold Wednesday’s session of the Kurdistan parliament, as the absolute majority quorum was met to hold the session.

The quorum was met after several lawmakers defected from their affiliated parties and attended the session as independents, citing their commitment to their legal duties and desire to overcome the political deadlock that rendered the legislature inactive following the Kurdistan Region's last parliamentary elections.

The Kurdistan Region held parliamentary elections on October 20, 2024, and the elected lawmakers were sworn in during a session in December of that year. However, subsequent attempts to convene parliament have failed because the required legal quorum was not met.

KDP lawmaker Samira Hassan chaired the parliament session as the acting speaker of the session, which began by reading out the names of the candidates for the parliament's presidency board, consisting of the speaker, deputy speaker, and secretary of parliament posts.

Parliament speaker

The KDP’s Vala Fareed secured the position of parliament speaker after obtaining the confidence of all 52 lawmakers in attendance.

Fareed, a PhD holder in law, previously served as a member of parliament for two consecutive terms and was involved in Erbil-Baghdad negotiations. She was also voted for the speaker post in the 2018 cycle of parliament, but later withdrew her candidacy in favor of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) nominee, Rewaz Fayaq, as part of a political agreement between the two parties.

Speaking at during the session, Fareed called on "all parliamentary blocs to return to the parliament and take part in the sessions and continue their duties," urging them to nominate candidates for the legislature's committees, singling out the legal affairs committee as "parliament cannot perform its work" without it.

"That is why we ask you to nominate your candidates for the legal affairs committee of the Kurdistan parliament by Monday," she said.

Deputy speaker

Ramy Noori of the Christian quota was elected as the Kurdistan parliament’s deputy speaker.

Noori was the former mayor of the Erbi’s Christian-majority Ankawa district and has expertise in law and administration and management, according to the Kurdistan parliament’s official website.

Secretary of Parliament

Muna Kahveci of the Turkmen representation was elected as the secretary of the Kurdistan parliament, securing an absolute majority of 52 votes.

She was the first woman from her ethnic community to serve in the parliament's presidency when previously appointed as secretary in 2018. Kahveci was previously elected to parliament in 2013 and 2018, serving on several parliamentary committees. She was also a member of the High Council for the Independence Referendum, and holds a bachelor’s degree in law.

Defection intrigue

The Wednesday session was held at the behest of the KDP and several minority parties as a bid to activate parliament, but was boycotted by the PUK and other factions. However, the defection of several lawmakers from the opposing parties allowed quorum to be met, with figures crossing the aisle including the PUK's Hardi Salah and Mohammed Faysal Karimkhan.

The PUK is the KDP’s main rival and the two traditionally rule the government together. They emerged as the two largest parties in the last parliamentary elections, winning 39 and 23 seats respectively. However, negotiations to form the next cabinet have repeatedly stalled, with the two parties blaming each other for the impasse.

Two members of the National Stance (Halwest) Movement also refused to heed their party's decision to boycott the session, resulting in the bloc's leader Ali Hama Saleh declaring that the pair have been "expelled" from the movement, accusing them of "gaining positions and money, but losing their credibility."