By | Dr. Nazaket Hussen
The situation in the Middle East continues to generate tensions across the region. Despite these ongoing challenges, Baghdad’s illegal and unconstitutional actions have fostered a deep sense of despair regarding the possibility of establishing a strong and stable relationship with the Kurdistan Region. The most troubling outcome has been the suspension of budget allocations and the cutting of salaries for citizens in the Kurdistan Region.
As elections for the sixth term of the Iraqi Parliament approach, it is more crucial than ever for political parties in both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to reach an agreement and cooperate in preparing for the vote. Unfortunately, the prevailing instability across the country casts serious doubt on the likelihood of a smooth and credible electoral process. There is little confidence that Parliament will serve the people effectively when previously ratified laws and constitutional provisions concerning both the Kurdistan Region and Iraqi citizens are ignored or selectively applied.
Unless regional observer states coordinate their efforts to mediate and press Baghdad to engage with its regions in accordance with the constitution, it will remain impossible to create a conducive environment for the elections. Blocking or undermining the electoral process represents not only a setback for democracy but also a dangerous step toward a more volatile and unstable Iraq.
Iraq is a nation endowed with vast natural resources, including oil and gas, yet it suffers from a persistent lack of transparency in resource distribution, weak enforcement of constitutional authority, and disregard for citizens’ rights under the constitution. Increasingly, the country resembles a state edging toward disintegration rather than one moving toward stability, fostering chaos instead of order.
Ultimately, this trajectory could make coexistence between Iraq’s regions unsustainable and risk driving some toward disengagement from the political process—particularly the Kurdistan Region. As one of the more stable and developing areas of Iraq, the Kurdistan Region has the potential to take greater steps toward progress and to serve as a model of stability, positively influencing the rest of the country. Realizing this vision, however, requires strong and genuine political will—something that, regrettably, remains absent in the current negotiations.