Image Credits - The Arab News
The recent election of a new governor in Kirkuk has sparked controversy and protests from the Iraqi Turkmen community, which argues that the process was exclusionary and conducted unlawfully. The Kirkuk Provincial Council meeting, which took place on August 10, elected Rebvar Taha from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) as governor and Mohammed Hafiz as council speaker. The election was held at Baghdad’s Al-Rasheed Hotel, not in Kirkuk, leading to accusations of political manoeuvring and lack of representation for key ethnic groups.
Erşat Salihi, a member of the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC), expressed surprise and dismay over the proceedings, stating that the handling of the Kirkuk local government issue by Baghdad was unexpected. The ITC has filed a petition with Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court to annul the election, arguing that the process was illegal and did not include Turkmen representation. Salihi emphasized that the ITC would await the court’s decision before taking further action.
The ITC has called for a protest against the new administration in Kirkuk, which they claim does not adequately represent Turkmen interests. The protest is scheduled to take place on Tuesday evening in front of the Kirkuk governorate building. The ITC has urged all Turkmen to participate in the demonstration to address what they see as an injustice against their community.
The election, which saw participation from five members of the PUK, three Arab members, and one Christian, was boycotted by Turkmen, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) members, and three other Arab council members. The Kirkuk Provincial Council consists of 16 seats, and the absence of these groups has led to claims of an imbalanced and non-inclusive process. The PUK has defended the election outcome, asserting that Taha was duly elected governor.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) of Türkiye has also criticized the election process. Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik denounced the exclusion of Turkmens and Arab groups, asserting that it undermines efforts to create an inclusive and representative political environment in Iraq. He highlighted that such approaches are detrimental to both Kirkuk and broader Iraqi unity.