Masoud Barzani’s party refuses to recognize Nizar Amidi, deepening divisions with Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and raising questions over legality of the parliamentary session.
Kurdish Policy Analysis / SULAIMANI, Iraq — The Kurdistan Democratic Party, led by Masoud Barzani, has rejected the election of Nizar Amidi as Iraq’s president, intensifying political tensions within the Kurdistan Region and across the country.
The party said it would not recognize the outcome of Saturday’s parliamentary session and instructed its representatives in Baghdad to return to the Kurdistan Region for consultations, signaling a potential escalation in the standoff.
Amidi, backed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, was elected after more than four months of political deadlock rooted in disputes between the two dominant Kurdish parties, as well as broader disagreements over forming a new Kurdistan Regional Government.
The vote was boycotted by the KDP and the State of Law Coalition, led by former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, exposing widening fractures among both Kurdish factions and Shiite القوى within the Coordination Framework.
In a statement issued after the session, the KDP accused parliament of violating procedural rules and questioned the legitimacy of the vote.
“The election process was conducted in a manner inconsistent with the council’s internal regulations,” the party said, adding that the session agenda had not been set in accordance with established procedures.
The party also rejected the nomination process, arguing that Iraq’s presidency is a collective Kurdish entitlement rather than the prerogative of a single faction. It accused the PUK of unilaterally advancing Amidi’s candidacy with support from other Iraqi القوى.
“We do not consider a person chosen in this way to represent the Kurdish majority,” the statement said.
Days before the vote, Barzani had warned against proceeding with the presidential election without parallel agreement among Shiite factions on a prime minister candidate, calling such a move “unacceptable” and urging a synchronized constitutional process.
Analysts say the dispute could further delay the already stalled formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government and weaken Kurdish bargaining power in Baghdad.
Independent journalist Saman Noah described the KDP’s reaction as unprecedented, warning of a deepening crisis.
“The current trajectory is unprecedented and will further complicate conditions in a region facing major structural challenges,” he said, pointing to more than 18 months without a regional government, a largely inactive parliament, and worsening economic conditions.
Questions have also emerged over whether the parliamentary session met quorum requirements. Under Iraqi law, electing a president requires a two-thirds majority — at least 220 lawmakers present out of 329.
Writer and researcher Kifah Mahmoud said claims by lawmakers, including Ikhlas al-Dulaimi, suggested attendance may have fallen below 180 members.
“If accurate, that would fall well short of the required threshold,” Mahmoud said, warning that the session could constitute a “serious breach” with implications for the legitimacy of Iraq’s political process.
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