The Sixth Parliamentary Election of Kurdistan: Results and Implications

Abstract

Political geography examines all geographical factors that influence political decisions and changes, including the analysis and distribution of power among parties and lists participating in the electoral process. Parliament is a national institution that plays a vital role in strengthening the political process of the Kurdistan region and ensuring the rights and duties of its inhabitants the sixth term of Kurdistan Parliament represents a major change in the parliament's history regarding the electoral system, reduction in parliamentary seats, distribution of seats across electoral districts, and the reorganization of ethnic minority quotas. The election system changed from a single constituency to a multiple constituency system. Based on Kurdistan Region's provinces, parliamentary seats were divided into four electoral districts (Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and Halabja). The number of parliamentary seats was reduced from 111 to 100, and the ethnic minority quota system was reorganized from 11 seats to 5 seats, distributed across the electoral districts. Since the first parliamentary election, voter turnout has consistently declined, from 87.4% in the first term to 59% in the fifth term - a decrease of 28.4%. However, voter turnout in this sixth parliamentary term increased to 72%, demonstrating Kurdistan Region citizens' renewed trust in this national institution. This is considered an important turning point for the Kurdistan Region, enabling parliament to become a decision-making center and a strong pillar of national security.