PUK MP: Inaugural of Kirkuk Provincial Council is Key to Resolving Problems

Reports 10:36 AM - 2024-07-10

Kirkuk City

The Iraqi Prime Minister has called upon the Kirkuk Provincial Council to convene its inaugural session. An Iraqi MP from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) stated that the first session will address several recommendations for the establishment of the council and the selection of a governor for the city, which is anticipated to be crucial in resolving the issues at hand.

 

Al-Sudani Calls on Victorious Members to hold the First Kirkuk Provincial Council Session

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Muhammad Shia' al-Sudani, has urged the Kirkuk Provincial Council's victorious members to hold its inaugural session on Thursday, July 11, 2024. 

In a statement, a copy of which was obtained by PUKMEDIA: Al-Sudani said, "Following the federal government's successful organisation of local elections for the governorates, including Kirkuk Governorate, where such elections have not been conducted since 2005, we facilitated multiple rounds of political dialogues between the winning parties in the provincial council and another by a committee established specifically for this objective. The discussions led to the establishment of a Kirkuk administration coalition, which would comprise the victorious factions. Furthermore, a political agreement document was produced, including the fundamental principles, political and administrative strategies, as well as cultural and economic aspects."

He also said, "We urge the newly elected members of the Kirkuk Provincial Council to convene the inaugural session of the council on Thursday, July 11, 2024, under the leadership of the oldest member. The session will take place in the provincial council building, and its purpose is to implement the agreements reached in the previous dialogue session."

He further encouraged the relevant political factions to collaborate in executing the agreed-upon measures from the political discussions and to conclude these dialogues in the upcoming days.

 

The PUK Requested to Start the First Session

Sabah Sheikh Habib, a Representative of the PUK faction in the Iraqi parliament, told PUKMEDIA: "The PUK has consistently urged the Iraqi Prime Minister, through its officials in Baghdad, for the Kirkuk Provincial Council to convene its inaugural session. Now that the Prime Minister has requested the council have its first meeting on Thursday, we express our support of this decision."

He further said: "Following almost seven months since the Iraqi Provincial Council elections, the Kirkuk Provincial Council stands out as the only one that has not yet convened its first session or selected a governor for the city. We hope that this session will be a key to resolving the issues and rescuing the city administration from its current deadlock."

Mr. Habib revealed that tomorrow's meeting will include not only the swearing-in ceremony for council members but also a discussion of several proposals for the formation of the provincial council and the appointment of the governor.

 

The PUK won five seats in Kirkuk province

After 18 years, the Kirkuk Provincial Council election took place on December 18, 2023. This election was a part of the broader Iraqi provincial council elections, which included a total of 15 provinces. At this point, only the province of Kirkuk needs to establish the council and select a candidate for the position of the city's governor, and the PUK considers its rightful claim to the position based on its electoral achievements.

The Kirkuk coalition, comprising the PUK and the Kurdistan Communist Party, emerged as the leading political party in the province, earning 157,639 votes, which accounts for 43% of the total votes, and won 5 seats.

 

 

PUKMEDIA