Başûrê (South) Kurdistan Independent High Election Commission announced that the electoral campaign for the Kurdistan Regional Parliamentary Elections to be held on 30 September will start today.

"Political parties and coalitions in Kurdistan can begin electoral campaign for the fifth parliamentary election”, said Karwan Celal, Data Commission Director of the Election Commission.

Jalal said that all candidates and parties who will participate in the election can put up poster and party flags within the criteria set by the commission.

The electoral campaign will last until 28 September.

The Commission has accepted 709 candidates from 31 lists and coalitions for the Kurdistan Parliamentary Elections.

Turkmen, Christian and Armenian parties and coalitions have presented a total of 64 candidates.

111 seats to be won

The Kurdistan Parliament has a total of 111 seats. Five of them are reserved to Turkmen, five to Kaldean, Assyrian, Syriac and Armenian. It's noteworthy that the Yazidi have no quota.

The Coalition for Democracy and Justice, headed by Behrem Salih, has said, four days ago, that he would not contest the elections. 

Head of the Goran Movement. Yusif Mihemed told Voice of America radio that they discussed the postponement or boycott of the elections with the Coalition for Democracy and Justice, Komala Islam and the Islamic Yekgirtu Party.

Tevgera Azadiye excluded

Tevgera Azadiye Kurdistan, who participated in the Iraqi parliamentary elections and elected one deputy, was not accepted at the regional elections without any legal justification.

Number of candidates: 

The number of candidates for parties and coalitions that will take part in the elections is as follows:

KDP: 100

PUK: 100

Goran: 100

Serdem List: 100

Islahata Correct (coalition formed by the Union and Islamic Movement Party): 61

New Generation (Newey Nwe): 50

Freedom List: 43

The Islamic Community Party (Komel): 40