Kurdish parties currently hold 60 seats in Baghdad
Ahead of Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary elections on November 11, Kurdish parties are preparing for a strong push to increase their presence in Baghdad. Out of Iraq’s 329 parliamentary seats, 46 are allocated to the Kurdistan Region, including 9 seats reserved for women. Currently, Kurds hold nearly 60 seats in total, distributed among several Kurdish parties.
There is a clear ambition to win additional seats beyond the Kurdistan Region, in provinces like Kirkuk, Mosul, Diyala, and Baghdad, where Kurds have a voting base. In the last election, for example, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) won 8 seats in Mosul, raising the total number of Kurdish seats beyond the fixed regional quota.
Preparations are ongoing for the sixth term of Iraq’s Council of Representatives, scheduled for November 11. The Independent High Electoral Commission has released the new seat distribution and candidate replacement system, effective from May 12 this year. Under the new rules, each Iraqi province will be treated as a single constituency.
Although 46 seats are set aside for Erbil (16), Sulaymaniyah (18), and Duhok (12), Kurdish parties are aiming to win more seats in provinces outside the Kurdistan Region. Dr. Viyan Sabri, head of the KDP’s bloc in the Iraqi Parliament, told The Kurdish Globe, “It’s crucial this time for Kurds to have a powerful presence in Baghdad’s parliament. Key issues like the oil and gas law, Article 140, and the Erbil-Baghdad agreement will all be debated in parliament. That’s why Kurdish parties must boost their seat count, especially from outside the Kurdistan Region.”
She added that increasing the number of Kurdish MPs in Baghdad would allow them to influence legislation more effectively. “We’ve had situations where just a few MPs made it impossible to reach a legal quorum, which blocked key decisions. A unified and stronger Kurdish presence in the next parliament would change that.”
Judge Hamdi Gully, former advisor to the Secretary of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, also told The Kurdish Globe, “The future of Iraq will be shaped through parliament. That’s why it’s vital for Kurds to raise their seat count and speak on behalf of the Kurdistan Region inside the Iraqi Parliament. For example, if Kurdish MPs unite to question those behind missile attacks on Kurdistan, it will lead to a serious outcome. A larger Kurdish bloc could hold the federal government accountable and ensure agreements are implemented.
She further noted that Kurdistan could play a significant role in oil, gas, and international policy discussions within parliament. “These issues are handled legislatively in Baghdad. It’s especially important for Kurdish parties—KDP, PUK, and others—to coordinate. This time, both Shiite and Sunni blocs are working hard to increase their own share of seats. Kurds must not miss this opportunity. Not a single Kurdish vote should go to waste in the Kurdistan Region, so we can maximize our seat count.”
The Kurdish Globe