KDP aims for a million votes in federal elections: Deputy leader

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Nechirvan Barzani, first deputy president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), on Sunday called on the party’s supporters to help it reach one million votes in the upcoming Iraqi elections.

“Are you ready to increase the KDP’s votes to one million on November 11? Our expectations are higher, but this time one million is enough,” said Barzani - who is also President of the Kurdistan Region - at a KDP election rally in Erbil. He added that in the last election, they "unexpectedly" garnered 800,000 votes.

He noted that the KDP is committed to ensuring the implementation of the federal constitution.

Campaigning for Iraq’s November elections began on October 3 and will continue until November 8. Security forces and special voters will cast their ballots on November 9, followed by the general election on November 11.

The KDP officially launched its election campaigning on Sunday, with its President Masoud Barzani urging “calm" participation by the Region's citizens while encouraging them to turn out at the polling stations "in high numbers."

With 175 names, the KDP has fielded the highest number of candidates on any party list. The party has 61 candidates in Nineveh province - its highest number across all electoral constituencies.

President Nechirvan Barzani reiterated on Sunday that his party remains committed to the full implementation of the Iraqi constitution. He has repeatedly censured Baghdad for failing to enforce key articles that are vital to the Kurdish people.

[Source: Rûdaw English]