PUK Fields Twice as Many Candidates as Parliamentary Seats in Key Iraqi Provinces

PUKMEDIA

PUK logo.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has officially submitted the names of approximately 200 candidates to Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) for the upcoming parliamentary elections, fielding candidates across eight provinces. According to the party’s submissions:

- Erbil Province: 30 PUK candidates for 15 parliamentary seats

- Sulaymaniyah Province: 36 candidates for 18 seats

- Kirkuk Province: 24 candidates for 12 seats, plus one quota seat for Christians

- Duhok Province: 10 candidates for 11 seats

- Nineveh Province: 62 candidates (in coalition) for 31 seats, plus three quota seats for Christians, Shabaks, and Yazidis

- Diyala Province: 28 candidates for 14 seats

- Baghdad: 1 candidate

- Saladin: 1 candidate

In total, the PUK is fielding 192 candidates across these provinces for the 11 November 2025 elections, with about one third of the list comprising women—exceeding the IHEC’s 25% gender quota target. 

The PUK’s Elections Bureau submitted the full list last Thursday, ensuring representation in key governorates and highlighting a commitment to gender inclusion. The IHEC has begun verifying all submitted candidate lists in preparation for the elections.



PUKMEDIA