Kurdistan Parliament

Kurdistan Parliament
Name	Kurdistan Parliament
Native name	پەرلەمانی کوردستان
Legislature	Kurdistan Region
House type	Unicameral
Foundation	1992
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader1	Rewaz Faiq
Election1	2019
Members	111
Political groups1	Government (59), Kurdistan Democratic Party (45), Kurdistan Justice Group (7), Kurdistan Islamic Union (5), Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party (1), Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council (1), Opposition (52), Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (17), New Generation Movement (8), Kurdistan Islamic Group (3), Turkmen Development List (2), Erbil Turkmen List (1), Arab Coalition (1), Rights and Justice Group (1), Independents (19)
Last election1	20 October 2023
Meeting place	Parliament Building, Erbil
Website	www.parliament.krd

Kurdistan Parliament. The Kurdistan Parliament is the democratically elected legislative body of the Kurdistan Region, an autonomous federal entity within the Republic of Iraq. Established following the 1991 Kurdish uprising and the creation of a safe haven enforced by the United States, United Kingdom, and France, it first convened in Erbil in 1992. The parliament is responsible for enacting regional legislation, approving the regional government, and overseeing the Kurdistan Regional Government.

History

The establishment of the parliament was a direct outcome of the Gulf War and the subsequent no-fly zone established by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 688. The first elections were held in May 1992, leading to a power-sharing agreement between the two dominant parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). This period was soon marred by the Iraqi Kurdish Civil War, which paralyzed legislative functions from 1994 to 1997. Following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the parliament's role was formalized under the new Constitution of Iraq, which recognized the Kurdistan Region in 2005. Significant legislative milestones include the passage of the Kurdistan Region Oil and Gas Law in 2007 and the Region's own constitution in 2009.

Structure and composition

The parliament is a unicameral legislature currently composed of 111 seats. One hundred of these are elected by proportional representation from the Region's constituencies, while 11 are reserved seats for ethnic and religious components: five for the Assyrian community, five for the Turkmen community, and one for the Armenian community. The presiding officer is the Speaker, an office held by Rewaz Faiq of the Kurdistan Justice Group since 2019. The internal structure includes a Presidium, numerous permanent committees such as the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee, and a Caucus for Freedom of Press.

Powers and responsibilities

Its constitutional powers derive primarily from the Constitution of Iraq, particularly Article 121, which grants it legislative authority in all areas not exclusively reserved for the federal government in Baghdad. Key responsibilities include drafting and ratifying laws for the Kurdistan Region, approving the annual budget presented by the Council of Ministers of Kurdistan Region, and exercising oversight over the Kurdistan Regional Government and its ministries. The parliament also holds the power to ratify international agreements pertinent to the Region, declare war, and conduct votes of confidence in the regional Prime Minister.

Elections

Parliamentary elections are held every four years, governed by the Kurdistan Region Elections Law. The Independent High Electoral Commission supervises the polls. The first election in 1992 used a party-list proportional representation system, a model maintained in subsequent votes. Notable elections include the 2005 election held concurrently with the Iraqi constitutional referendum, the 2009 election which saw the rise of the Gorran movement, and the 2018 election which was contested following the 2017 Kurdistan Region independence referendum. The most recent election was held in October 2023 after significant delays.

Political parties and blocs

The political landscape is dominated by two historical parties: the Kurdistan Democratic Party, led by the Barzani family, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, associated with the Talabani family. Other significant Kurdish parties include the Kurdistan Justice Group, the Kurdistan Islamic Union, the Kurdistan Islamic Group, and the New Generation Movement. Alliances frequently shift, forming blocs such as the Kurdistan List or the Kurdistan Alliance. The legislature also includes representatives from minority lists like the Turkmen Development List and the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council.

Relationship with the federal government of Iraq

The relationship is defined by the federal structure of Iraq and is often a source of political tension. Key disputes center on the interpretation of the Constitution of Iraq, particularly regarding oil revenue sharing, the management of oil fields in disputed territories like Kirkuk, and the budgetary allocations from federal finance. The deployment and authority of the Iraqi Armed Forces versus the Peshmerga within the Region's borders are persistent issues. These conflicts have led to major crises, including the 2017 Kurdistan Region independence referendum and the subsequent military confrontation in areas like Kirkuk and Sinjar.

Category:Unicameral legislatures Category:Kurdistan Region Category:Legislatures of country subdivisions Category:1992 establishments in Iraq