Latif Nerwayi: PUK Doubles Its Votes in Special Elections

PUKMEDIA

Latif Nerwayi, member of the Leadership Council and Head of the Media Board of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

Latif Nerwayi, member of the Leadership Council and Head of the Media Board of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), announced that the party has secured over 70,000 votes in the special voting process— a 100% increase compared to the previous elections.

Nerwayi shared the news with enthusiasm, congratulating Peshmerga forces, PUK members, and the Kurdish people, noting that while official results are yet to be announced, “the results are clear through the electronic system and based on data received by the PUK media.”

He stated: “So far, over 70,000 votes have been cast for the PUK. In the 2021 Iraqi parliamentary elections, the PUK received only 38,342 votes across the four provinces — 10,268 in Erbil, 2,215 in Duhok, 24,633 in Sulaymaniyah, and 1,230 in Halabja. This time, our votes have nearly doubled, marking a great victory.”

Nerwayi added that opposition forces, which gained 16,500 votes in the previous elections’ special voting, have seen their support drop to 11,000 votes, a 32% decrease. 

“While the votes Kurdistan Democratic Party's have also fallen, PUK votes have risen significantly, proving that the Peshmerga forces want the PUK to succeed,” he said.

He described the outcome as a clear indication of the PUK’s growing strength and trust among voters, especially within the security and Peshmerga ranks.

Furthermore, Nerwayi said: “The PUK team in the government, especially Qubad Talabani, showed the patience of Prophet Ayub because this cabinet has been a failed government — a source of crisis, lack of partnership, and discrimination. 

He criticised the KDP’s actions, citing the Gomespan Dam project as an example of political exclusion and bias:

“The KDP claimed the Gomespan Dam project, which was the idea and effort of Agriculture Minister Begard Talabani [who is from the PUK], as its own and did not even invite her to the opening ceremony. By doing so, they have refuted their own claims of partnership and equality, and shown that discrimination exists.”

Nerwayi emphasised that the PUK has always rejected such divisions: “The PUK has never said ‘our project’ or ‘their project.’ On the contrary, we have always called for equality and non-discrimination in governance. Therefore, we ask — where in the world is there a broad-based government that is in fact run by a single party?”

Moreover, Nerwayi stated: “The PUK is not against the government itself, but against its current policies and the repetition of the same failed mentality. Employment across the Kurdistan Region has been limited to members of one party. For example, individuals are being transferred from Akre to Shiladze to be employed, while local administrations in Erbil and Duhok remain under one-party control, unlike Halabja and Sulaymaniyah, where administration is inclusive and multi-party.”

He continued: “How can a governor question the Deputy Prime Minister for opening a project, or publicly criticise a party and its leader? These two governance models cannot coexist. If we truly believe in a multi-party, democratic, parliamentary system, then the file of this government must be closed, and a new, fair model of governance must be introduced.”

Nerwayi further noted that several key pillars and major institutions of the Kurdistan Regional Government have been monopolised by a single party: “The presidency, premiership, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Department of Foreign Relations have all been marked as red lines and reserved for one side. During the election campaign and project inaugurations in Erbil, the KDP proved that the current cabinet is not a coalition government but a partisan one that has monopolised power.”

He added: “They have centralised money and revenue, and then ask why there are no projects in Sulaymaniyah. That is why we compare Erbil with Kirkuk — because where the PUK administers, like in Kirkuk, the quality and integrity of projects are much higher.”



PUKMEDIA