Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Mohamed al-Hassan on Friday told the UN Security Council that positive progress has been made in the Kurdistan Region following the parliamentary elections held successfully on October 20.

“After two years of protracted negotiations and delays, parliamentary elections took place in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, thus re-establishing the legitimacy of the Region’s institutions. On October 20 I witnessed first-hand in Erbil and Dohuk well organized and smooth voting operations in some of the more than 7,000 polling stations,” he said.

“With more than two million people casting their votes, voters’ turnout reached 72%, an increase of 12% over the previous elections. UNAMI’s electoral assistance has been widely recognized by regional and federal authorities, including the Independent High Electoral Commission; a support that was instrumental in instilling trust and strengthening Iraq’s technical capacities for elections. This is something the UN should be very proud of.”

“I take this opportunity to congratulate Iraq, the UN, and the UNAMI electoral staff for their dedicated efforts,” he concluded.

Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission in late November ratified the results of the Kurdistan Parliament’s sixth-term elections, with the Kurdistan Democratic Party leading with 39 seats, followed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan with 23, and the New Generation Movement with 15.

We are pleased to see the newly elected Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament open today. We look forward to the KRG swiftly forming government institutions that are responsive to the needs of the people of the IKR and contribute to Iraq's security, stability, and sovereignty.

— Ambassador Alina L. Romanowski (@USAmbIraq) December 2, 2024

The Kurdistan Parliament successfully held its first session on December 2, 2024, without any issues, an event warmly welcomed by Western diplomats.

“We are pleased to see the newly elected Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament open today. We look forward to the Kurdistan Regional Government swiftly forming government institutions that are responsive to the needs of the people of the Kurdistan Region and contribute to Iraq’s security, stability, and sovereignty,” U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski posted on X on December 2.

Apart from the elections, UNAMI Head al-Hassan also welcomed the successful conduct of the national census on November 20 of this year, which he observed together with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.

“This was the first nationwide, comprehensive census to include the Kurdistan Region since 1987. Preliminary results indicate that Iraq’s population has almost doubled in just over three decades, reaching more than 45 million people. Decision makers will now be able to plan based on reliable facts and figures,” he concluded.