In the Provincial General Assembly elections held in Iraq on December 18, 2023, Kirkuk Power and Will Coalition led by YNK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan - Yekîtiya Niştimaniya Kurdistan) came first in Kirkuk with 5 seats. The Christian quota was 1, KDP (Kurdistan Democrat Party - Partiya Demokrat a Kurdistanê) 2, Arab Coalition 3, Arab Qaeda 2, Arab Alliance 1 and Turkmens 2 seats. Following the YNK's success in Kirkuk, Turkey's traffic in the region intensified. Turkey, which held talks with the KDP in the Federated Kurdistan region in order to realize its plans in the region, failed to achieve what it wanted despite all its obstruction and sabotage efforts. 

 

Kirkuk Provincial Council met in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, on August 10. 9 members attended the meeting and YNK's Rebwar Taha was elected as the new Governor of Kirkuk. The meeting was not attended by 2 members of the KDP, 2 members of the Turkmen Front and the remaining Arab members.

 

Journalist Aras Ibrahim, who followed the developments, evaluated the process. 

 

'TURKEY'S PLANS ARE BROKEN'

 

Stating that Turkey formed an anti-Kurdish front in Kirkuk, Ibrahim said that the KDP took part in the anti-Kurdish front in line with Turkey's plans. Stating that Turkey's plans in the region were disrupted with the YNK's electoral success, Ibrahim said: "Before the elections, the eyes of both the regional powers and the Turkish state were on Kirkuk. Turkey made plans on Kirkuk for years to realize its 'Misak-ı Milli' dreams. When ISIS gangs attacked the region, Turkey again acted in line with these plans. The KDP, on the other hand, sided with the occupiers in both candidate selection and list determination. Both before and after the elections, it negotiated with Turkmen and other chauvinist parties in order for the YNK to lose. Acting in line with Turkey's wishes, the KDP was also involved in Turkey's plans in the region. However, with the governor of Kirkuk passing to YNK in the elections, all their plans were disrupted." 

 

'HEGEMONIC POWERS HAVE THEIR EYES ON KIRKUK'

 

Pointing out that Turkey, European countries and hegemonic powers have set their eyes on Kirkuk with the election results, "For a long time, European countries, Britain and America have been acting for their interests in Kirkuk. Conflicts constantly arise between them, especially due to oil. Kirkuk has always attracted the attention of neighboring states and sovereigns due to its geopolitical location. However, in order to prevent a situation similar to Mosul against the interests of neighboring states and sovereigns, the Kurds have developed a common strategy. The people of Kirkuk also asserted their will and showed that Kirkuk is YNK and Kurdish. Of course, this success of the YNK is not alone. It achieved this success together with other Kurdish parties, the Freedom Movement and other Kurdish forces. Many new developments will emerge after this victory. Especially it is not clear what the Turkish state will do" Ibrahim said.  

 

Reminding that the KDP formed an anti-Kurdish alliance in agreement with the Turkmen Front, Ibrahim said: "Kirkuk election results will also affect the balances in the region. The KDP, which opposed the Arab forces for years, hosted their opponents in their house so that the Kurds would not win in Kirkuk. This revealed another face of KDP betrayal. All their efforts were for the YNK to lose. What the KDP is doing is nothing but destroying the Kurdish house. According to some rumors in the region, the KDP will oppose the election results of Turkmen and Arabs." 

 

'IT WILL AFFECT TURKEY'S ATTACKS'

 

Emphasizing that the Kirkuk elections will also affect Turkey's attacks, Ibrahim continued his words as follows: "Turkey has been making great efforts to prevent the administration of Kirkuk from passing to the Kurds. Just as Turkey attacked Sulaymaniyah for 'supporting the PKK', it may attack Kirkuk for the same reasons. Of course, it can also do this through the KDP and the Turkmen Front. There was a lot of destruction in Kirkuk. However, Kirkuk governor Taha, who was elected with the support of Kurdish forces, can eliminate these damages and bring peace back to Kirkuk." 

 

MA / Mahmut Altıntaş