ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) on Wednesday hailed the reactivation of the Kurdistan parliament as "an important step towards restoring the effective functioning of democratic institutions," urging boycotting blocs to return to the legislature and condemning alleged threats made against defecting politicians and their families.

The parliament held its first session since the swearing in of the winners of Kurdistan Region's last elections in December 2024 earlier in the morning, breaking a two-year deadlock and appointing the legislature's presidency.

However, the session was boycotted by several parties, including the KDP's historic rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and was only able to meet quorum as a result of a series of defections from non-participating blocs.

"The resumption of parliamentary proceedings, with the participation of a parliamentary majority, represents an important step towards restoring the effective functioning of democratic institutions, strengthening political accountability, and reaffirming the principles of parliamentary democracy in the Kurdistan Region," the KDP Foreign Relations Office said in a statement.

"We sincerely hope that this significant development will mark the beginning of a new chapter of political responsibility, constructive dialogue, and institutional cooperation."

The KDP politburo, meanwhile, stressed that the opposition politicians who attended the session did so out of "their sense of national duty," noting that it "ended the legal vacuum and the imposition of a political minority."

"This is despite the fact that some parliamentarians and their relatives have been threatened, which is a dangerous sign and a threat to democracy and the will of the people and expresses a mentality that does not serve the democratization of Kurdish society."

The PUK abstained from the Wednesday session after accusing the KDP of failing to work in conjunction with the party to administer the Kurdistan Region. However, two PUK MPs, namely Hardi Salah and Mohammed Faysal Karimkhan, attended parliament and criticized the PUK's absence, citing the need to overcome inter-party conflicts and resume parliamentary activities.

Other boycotting parties included the National Stance (Halwest) Movement, the Kurdistan Islamic Union, and the New Generation Movement. Halwest leader Ali Hama Saleh announced that two of his MPs who attended the session have been "expelled" from the party, accusing them of "gaining positions and money, but losing their credibility."

The KDP’s Vala Fareed, who was appointed as parliament speaker unanimously by the 52 MPs in attendance, called on the absent parties to participate in a Monday session to nominate candidates for parliamentary committees, stressing the importance of the legal affairs committee in particular as "parliament cannot perform its work" without it.

The politburo echoed her call, urging all parties to "make positive decisions and participate in protecting the legitimacy and institution of the Kurdistan Region" and noting that "the door is open for everyone."