Deputy Speaker Dr. Hemin Hawrami receives Russian Federation's Consul General Mr. Maxim Rubin

Kurdistan Parliament Deputy Speaker Dr. Hemin Hawrami on 31 January 2023 welcomed the Russian Federation's Consul General in Kurdistan Region, Mr. Maxim Rubin. They discussed recent political and economic developments and the parties’ talks on holding the next Kurdistan Parliament election.

Deputy Speaker Hawrami and Consul General Rubin agreed on the importance of continuing to develop the close historic friendship between the Kurdistan Region and Russia. 

Deputy Speaker Hawrami said there is some rapprochement between the political parties about the next Kurdistan Parliament election. Legally the next election must be held before the end of this Parliament’s extension, which is 31 December 2023. This Parliament was extended for one year to prevent a legal vacuum, but cannot be extended further, Dr. Hawrami said.

The Deputy Speaker said that holding a free, fair and timely election is the public’s right.

On the issue of the 11 reserved seats for Kurdistan’s Christian, Turkmen and Armenian communities, Dr. Hawrami said it is up to the communities themselves to have discussions about which electoral system they want, and their wishes will be respected.

The Deputy Speaker said that the priority now is to hold the first reading of amendments to the Election Law, which have been proposed and submitted by different parties to Parliament’s Presidency, and to renew the mandate of the election commission. This can take place by scheduling extraordinary Parliament sittings in the current recess.

Dr. Hawrami said that the political, legal and technical preparations should be made for the election months in advance, so that the ballot can be held by the deadline.

Deputy Speaker Hawrami and Consul General Rubin also discussed relations between Erbil and Baghdad.

Consul General Rubin thanked Deputy Speaker Hawrami for his welcome and for briefing him on the recent developments.