Printer-friendly VersionThe Kurdish Globe
The lists are competing on the 42 seats allocated for the region. In their electoral programs, all the parties firmly emphasize on returning disputed areas including the controversial city of Kirkuk to the region. Furthermore, they highlight plans for reforms and for better services, particularly in favor of the Kurdistan Region.
Kurdistan Alliance List (372)
The alliance includes the two Kurdish ruling parties, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) led by Kurdistan Region President MassoudBarzani, the patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) led by Iraqi president Jalal Talabani as well as a number of other political parties in Kurdistan.
Putting "land issue" on the top, the alliance has published its electoral program in six sections. Within the decisive issues, the alliance strives forthe implementation of article 140 of the Iraqi constitution so as to end arabization, displacements and then to return disputable areas including Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Region. Kurdistan people's constitutional right of oil ownershipas well as reconstructing the region's economic infrastructure is another part of the decisive program. The alliance also demandfor"partnership in the authority and for arranging relations between Kurdistan Region and the federal government on the base of continuing consensus policy," as this will guarantee "coexistence among the entire Iraqi components," success of the political process and the establishment of the democratic plural and federal Iraq.
On providing security for the Iraqi people the alliance emphasizes on providing the security agencies with modern equipment and training.
A detailed section in the Kurdistan alliance program discusses economic developments. The alliance strives for "building the country's economic infrastructure through encouraging the different aspects of investment, agriculture, tourism and developing the oil and gas sections, but in a way that Iraq's economy will not depend primarily on oil (incomes) alone." It also calls for supporting principles of free economic markets and the private sectors. It will work for issuing a law for protecting the local costumers. It will encourage small industrial projects and work for developing the bank system in such a way that assists the people in general; including farmers, traders and investors.
The alliance says they will work for developing agriculture through executing strategic irrigation projects and through reconstructing the villages. They are concerned about food security through controlling the food imported to the country. The alliance state that there must be a set limit to importing products that could be produced domestically, this comes with a plan to encourage local farmers to increase quality of their items. Canning agricultural products must become an industry in the country. Building dams is the alliance's policy for saving the country's surface water. Removing mines and influences of previous chemical bombards are the list's most import concerns for protecting the environment. Increasing green zones in the cities is another task on their agenda.
On tourism, the list works for issuing a law opens way for developing tourism section especially in Kurdistan region and in provinces where there are holy shrines. On oil, it admits this wealth is for all Iraqis equally and a part of its incomes should be granted to directly to the people.
Removing corruption which "occupies the entire Iraqi government structure," will be an attempt within the administrative reforms. Placing proper people in the appropriate place is a principle of the alliance which also attempts to introduce computing and internet technologies to facilitate people's jobs in governmental offices. Reforming jail systems and improving conditions of government employees are also listed in the agenda.
Reconstructing villages and building residential units in the cities are highlighted in the service section of the program. It calls for reforming the health and education sectors in the country through enforcing the law.
The most detailed section is about social reforms; in this section the alliance declare they will work to end sectarian and religious discrimination. They will care for ritual ceremonies as well as developing the holy sites. Minorities who have been exposed to damages such as Failikurds, Yazidis, Shabaks, Mandaes and others must be compensated. The government should commit to practice the constitutional rights for Turkmen, Christian communities and the Armenians. In addition to this, work opportunities must be promoted with a special care for disabled people. The alliance also lists a number of other reforms for elderly people, children, women and the youths.
Goran List (329)
Goran (or Change) is a political movement split from the PUK and gained 25 seats in the Kurdistan region Parliament in the previous elections held on July 25. It is led by Nawshirwan Mustafa.
Goran list, within its political goals, strives for enhancing the principles of a federal democratic system based on "practical partnership." Establishing a federal council is a priority of the list which foresees to guaranteethe rights of the federal regions. It also works for reforming the government establishment to achieve equal participation of the Iraqi people in the key positions with putting limits to political parties' influence. It seeks to disarm the parties. Civil society must be supported through protecting the independence of syndicates and NGOs. Reforming security system is another goal; the system should be professional and away from the loyalty of parties.
Relations between Kurdistan Region and the federal government come as the second priority within the program of the Goran list. Peaceful and democratic ways must be taken for solving suspended problems between the region and Baghdad according to the constitution. Goran works for rebuilding confidence among the Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Assyrians, Chaldian, Armenians and other communities via dialogue and coexistent principles. Drawing Kurdistan region borders and settling the issue of disputed areas according to the Constitution's article 140are also highlighted in the program. They allege towork for removing oppression that has been carried out against Faili Kurds and the Yazidis who must be compensated financially, socially and culturally. Kurdish people must have a fair role and share in keys posts, in diplomatic representations, and in the military sections. The list also pledges to recognize the Kurdish language as official practically in the country wide. Goran says life conditions of Peshmarga elements must be promoted to the level of the Iraqi army soldiers' privileges. Peshmarga forces must be provided with arms and training. The list works for guaranteeing the share of Kurdistan region in the federal strategic projects of land transportation, airline, railways, oil, gas and metal sects as well as saving water so as fall in the revival of Kurdistan region infrastructure.
Transparency in the budget is emphasizes in the program's third section of economic and administrative reforms. Goran says they attempt for protecting common wealth from monopolization and corruption as well as promoting the sects of agriculture, industry, and tourism. Health and education sections should be renewed and strategic projects should serve railways, electricity, oil, gas, sewage system, bridges and dams.
In the social section, the list works for removing unemployment and for improving art and sport activities for the children and youths. They say they will demand for establishing social and health insurance for the working people in both private and general sections. Reconstructing places of genocide victims is also stated. Goran demands removing parties' interference in the universities in its program of academic development. Salary system should be revised in a way it limits special privileges for officials.
The list also cares for the Iraqi immigrants and they will work for facilitating their return to Iraq and to allow them take part in the rebuilding process. The program also includes items on helping disabled people, enhancing freedom of expression, renovating historical sites and protecting the environment.
Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) List (315)
KIU is an Islamic party led by Salahaddin Bahaaddin. It takes four seats in the Kurdistan parliament. KIU was the only party from Kurdistan region winning five seats in the current Iraqi parliament separate from Kurdistan Alliance.
KIU publishes its program in 20 points under the title of "fixing the rights and a better future." Establishing a democratic authority and protecting people's rights and freedoms are listed as number one in the program. Within this KIU strives for forming a staff to supervise the legislation and executive establishments, activating the law to fight corruption, and for supporting NGOs, free media, and government establishments.
It supports the independency of the courts and keeping them away from political parties' interferences, according to a point in the program. In its themeof protecting security, the KIU suggests for compulsory military services in order to encourage national loyalty, to end terror problem and to vanish political influence in the security structure. Economic wise thelist demands to multiply the sources of national incomes, not depending only on oil. The program emphasizes on joining the private sector into the rebuilding process of the country's economic infrastructure.
On services, KIU emphasizes on swiftly providing drinkable water and healthy sewer in all towns and villages as well as training specialist employees of purifying water. They suggest for installing electronic controllers in the houses for economizing electricity; power station and electricity nets should be renovated. Theprivate sector must be encouraged to produce more power, they add. Rather than improvements in the health sector and in employment, the list considers about increasing residency projects and protecting renters according to law.
On agriculture, KIU calls for amendments of the agriculture reform law of 1970 so as to grant lands to those who are active producersand they also call for solving land problems. The program includes other suggestion on industrial development, protecting environment and social concerns.
A point to be taken into consideration is that the detailed and inclusive program declared by the KIU excludes any religious concern.
Islamic Group in Kurdistan/Iraq list number 352
The Islamic Group led by Ali Bapir holds four seats in the Kurdistan Parliament. It is the first time this Islamic party takes part in the Iraqi elections with a separate list.
IGK put emphasis on defending religious rules through "amending the laws which contradict the Islamic sharia constants," as well as issuing laws which return Islamic identity to the Iraqi community. In another part of the IGK electoral program, it says they will work for removing "Riba" or the interest on bank debts; this is because interest is considered as Haram.
However, the Group sorts its second priority for the implementation of article 140 of the Iraqi constitution on returning disputed areas including Kirkuk. Politically, IGK strives for enhancing political consensus as a base for the government and also for activating the principles of federal system in Iraq.
They say they will work for changing the towns of Halabja, Raniya, and Soran to provinces. They also emphasize the fact that the Peshmarga must become a regular military with only national loyalty. IGK seeks to build a bridge between the Kurdistan parliament and the Kurdish representatives in the Iraqi parliament.
It claims for issuing laws fighting corruption; they want the country's economy through multiplying the income source such as agriculture and industry along with oil. Also, they say that a part of the oil income to be distributed to every individuals.