The Kurdish Referendum: Between Defeat and Achievement

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  Nine years after Kurdistan’s 2017 referendum, its political, economic and strategic consequences remain deeply contested. Nine years after the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum, debate over the referendum and its consequences for the Kurdistan Region continues. Supporters regard it as a historic achievement, while its opponents see it as a factor that weakened the Region’s position within the framework of Iraq. On September 25, 2017, the referendum process was held in the Kurdistan Region and the disputed territories. At the time, the authorities of the Kurdistan Region claimed that the process was intended to pave the way for “independence” and “separation” from Iraq. However, less than a month later, the political balance shifted dramatically against the Region. When the referendum was held in the Kurdistan Region, most political parties and factions supported the process. However, less than a month later, when the Iraqi military operation against the disputed territor...
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572 Days Without a Government: Is Iraqi Kurdistan Entering a Constitutional Crisis?


More than 572 days after elections in the Kurdistan Region, no new government has been formed. Political monopoly, institutional paralysis, and power struggles are deepening Kurdistan’s governance crisis.

By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Sulaimani, Iraq | 16 May 2026— Kurdish Policy Analysis 

 More than one and a half year after the sixth parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region, the formation of the tenth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) remains uncertain, despite the federal government in Baghdad having already completed its formation process and activated parliament within months of the elections.


The sixth parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region were held on 20 October 2024. Since then, 572 days have passed without the formation of a new regional government.

Monopolising Key Powers is Causing the Delay in Forming a Government

Although the first session of the Kurdistan Parliament was held on 2 December 2024, during which members of the sixth parliamentary term were sworn in, the session has remained open ever since, leaving the Region effectively without a functioning parliament.

Political disagreements and the absence of a clear mechanism for distributing sovereign and executive positions are viewed as the main reasons behind the continued delay, as some parties are attempting to monopolise key institutions and ministries, including those related to the economy, internal affairs, foreign affairs, the Peshmerga forces, security institutions, intelligence agencies, and the judiciary, limiting the possibility of genuine power-sharing.

Delay in Forming New KRG Cabinets is Not New

Because of these flawed policies in the Kurdistan Region, the formation of governments has repeatedly faced long delays. The first government formed after the 19 May 1992 elections took only 46 days, while the second took 462 days, the third 95 days, the fourth 270 days, and the fifth 282 days. The sixth cabinet, however, remains unformed after 572 days.

The Federal Government Relies on the Constitution and Political Custom

Compared to the Kurdistan Region, the formation of the federal government in Iraq is relatively easier because it is largely based on political custom. Under this arrangement, the position of Prime Minister is typically held by a member of the Shia community, while the largest parliamentary coalition is granted the right to nominate the candidate tasked with forming the government.

The presidency is traditionally held by a Kurd, while the position of Speaker of Parliament is allocated to a Sunni Arab. Ministries are also distributed according to political balance and representation, with sovereign, service, and security portfolios shared among the various parties and components.

Under this system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is usually assigned to a Kurdish party, the Ministry of the Interior to a Shia party, and the Ministry of Defence to a Sunni party.

This arrangement has helped successive Iraqi governments meet constitutional deadlines despite political disputes.

The Region Needs a Law

This comparison between the formation of governments in the Kurdistan Region and the federal government highlights the urgent need for a clear legal framework and mechanism that obliges political parties to respect constitutional deadlines for government formation, thereby preventing further delays.

While the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has repeatedly called for accelerating the formation of the new government, some political forces continue to pursue policies based on dominance and monopoly, hindering progress toward a genuine partnership government.

Furthermore, the Kurdistan Region requires a new approach to governance that prevents any single party from monopolising all sovereign positions, thereby ensuring genuine partnership among the various political forces.

#Kurdistan #KRG #IraqiKurdistan #PUK #KDP #MiddleEast #Governance #Politics #Democracy #Geopolitics

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