Nineveh People's Union Coalition Introduces Candidates in Makhmur

PUKMEDIA

The ceremony held in Makhmur to introduce the Nineveh People’s Union Coalition.

The candidates of the Itihad Ahl Nainawa [Nineveh People’s Union Coalition] 281, were introduced during a ceremony held in Makhmur on Saturday. The coalition includes candidates representing all communities and ethnicities across the province.

In his welcoming remarks, Sardar Siamand, Head of the Qarachugh Headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), highlighted the background and goals of the coalition. 

He stated: “This list was first announced during the 2023 provincial council elections and continues to operate under the same name. It reflects the PUK's commitment to the wise policy of the late President Mam Jalal.”

He added: “PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani is following the same path today, and we all stand united on that path.”

Siamand further explained that the PUK has nominated candidates from all communities and ethnic groups in Nineveh Province, embodying the principles of inclusion and representation.

Addressing the people of Makhmur, as well as residents of Erbil and other cities covered by Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, he urged citizens to actively participate in the upcoming elections: “These are disputed areas, and your participation is vital. I call on everyone to vote for the Nineveh People’s Union Coalition 281.”

The disputed areas, often referred to as the “in-between areas,” encompass Kirkuk, Shingal [Sinjar], Makhmur, Tal Afar, Khanaqin, and others. These regions are characterised by ethnically and religiously diverse populations—including Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen—and contain significant oil and gas reserves. Under the former Ba’ath regime, Arabisation policies forcibly displaced many Kurds, replacing them with Arab settlers. Article 140 was designed to address the complex identity and administrative issues of these areas, mandating a process of normalisation, census, and referendum to determine their final status.

The PUK is contesting the 2025 Iraqi parliamentary elections, scheduled for 11 November, across several governorates, presenting its candidates on an independent list numbered 222 in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah (including Halabja), Duhok, Kirkuk, and Diyala. In Nineveh Governorate, the PUK is running as part of the "Nineveh People’s Union Coalition" with number 281, while in Saladin it is fielding one candidate within the "National Masses Coalition" with number 240.

Overall, the PUK is entering the elections with 156 candidates: 36 in Sulaymaniyah, 30 in Erbil, 5 in Duhok, 24 in Kirkuk, 28 in Diyala, 31 in Nineveh within the Nineveh People’s Union Coalition, and one candidate each in Saladin and Baghdad.



PUKMEDIA