KDP calls on Iraqi political parties to agree on snap elections

Over ten months after Iraq held snap parliamentary elections, the political parties have failed to elect a president and a prime minister for the country due to disagreements. Sadr, whose movement became the main winner of the vote by gaining 73 seats, withdrew from the parliament in June after failing to reach an agreement with the rival pro-Iran Coordination Framework.

On August 3, Sadr called for another snap election and the dissolution for the current parliament. Some political parties have welcomed this while others want to stick to the results of the October elections.

The KDP, which joined a Sadr-led alliance after the results of the latest elections were announced, said in a statement on Saturday that the Iraqi political parties should take “serious” and “urgent” steps to end the current political deadlock by reaching an agreement on fresh elections.

“We call on all political parties to take serious, necessary and urgent steps to hold productive and successful talks based on the Iraqi Constitution in order to save the country from the current deadlock,” read the statement from the Kurdish ruling party.

“Therefore, in order to bring about reforms and real change as well as improve the current situation in Iraq, there could be an agreement over holding snap elections following a consensus by all parties which should also promise [in advance] to accept the results of the [potential] elections,” it added.

The supporters of the Sadrist Movement and Coordination Framework have held a number of protests in the capital city of Baghdad, supporting the demands of their leaders. Sadr supporters have staged a sit-in in the city’s Green Zone for days and blocked access to the parliament building after occupying it for days.

The Coordination Framework supporters reject the dissolution of the current parliament, instead calling for reforms in the country.