The United States Ambassador to Iraq, Alina L. Romanowski, is spearheading a diplomatic endeavour to encourage the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) to engage in the Kurdistan region's forthcoming elections slated for June 10, as Iraq's Electoral Commission assures the timely conduct of the vote.
On March 19, the political bureau of the KDP reiterated its firm opposition to participating in the electoral process, labelling it as fundamentally flawed. This stance was prompted by the ruling of Iraq's Supreme Federal Court on February 23, which deemed the Kurdistan region parliament's minority quota seats as "unconstitutional." The court's decision effectively dissolved eleven quota seats designated for Turkmen, Christians, and Armenian minorities in the region, which had been established in the legislature since 1992.
Romanoski on Sunday conducted a series of meetings in Erbil, notably with Masoud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Nechirvan Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region, and Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
A source within the KRG informed Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed, The New Arab's Arabic-language sister publication, that Romanowski is actively supporting efforts for a peaceful resolution between Baghdad and Erbil, and Washington's objective is to persuade the KDP to participate in the elections and retract their boycott decision. Additionally, they seek to prevent any further escalation from Baghdad regarding administrative actions targeted at Erbil.
