Hassan Majid, head of the KDP bloc in Kirkuk Provincial Council, to The Kurdish Globe: Kirkuk’s fate won’t be decided in secret.
Following the election of a new Turkmen governor for the city, political tensions in Kirkuk have reached a climax. Since the provincial council elections, the city has remained entangled in a power struggle among winning parties over the distribution of administrative posts.
In an interview with The Kurdish Globe, Hassan Majid, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) bloc in the Kirkuk Provincial Council, outlined the latest developments, the Kurdish position in the emerging political equation, and the obstacles preventing the formation of a new administration to serve citizens, particularly following the recent proposal to change the governor.
Majid strongly criticized the current governance approach in Kirkuk, stressing that the KDP will not participate in any agreement that ignores the will of the city’s indigenous communities. Referring to the upcoming provincial council meeting, he said:
“As the KDP bloc, we made a final decision not to attend the April 16 meeting. This position continues our earlier rejection of the Al-Rasheed Hotel meetings in Baghdad. We firmly believe that decisions affecting Kirkuk should not be made behind closed doors or in dark rooms. Any decision taken without reflecting the true will of the components will not serve the city’s stability.”
Majid also highlighted what he described as ongoing administrative injustice against Kurds in Kirkuk since October 16, 2017, warning that marginalization has reached a critical level.
“So far, around 40 key administrative and security positions have been taken from Kurds, including the mayoralty of Dubiz district. According to our information, even if the governorship changes, no major positions will be restored to Kurds, which is unacceptable.”
He further emphasized that the KDP’s political approach in Kirkuk is based on peaceful coexistence and mutual acceptance among all communities.
“The KDP has always been an umbrella for all components. We are not against any nationality or religion. We want representation for everyone based on merit and electoral entitlement. We remain committed to the principles we presented during the elections.”
Concluding the interview, Majid said the party’s future stance would depend on political developments.
“Every situation will be addressed in due time. As a bloc, we follow the decisions of our leadership. If any future step guarantees the rights of Kurds and all other components, our leadership will act accordingly. For now, boycott remains our only option to defend the people of Kirkuk.”