Change in Iraqi Kurdistan

For years under Saddam Hussein, Iraqi Kurdistan's two main political-quasi-tribal blocs for a bitter civil war. But since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Kurdistan Patriotic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have united in a common bloc to advance the region's interests in a new Iraq.

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The well-established dominance is being with a new serious challenge, however. For the record; in today's election for the regional parliament and a president, the KDP and the PUK are expected to win in joint list.

But their electoral hold may be less than they have grown accustomed to. That is because a new party called Goran ("change") started by a former PUK party member is making some headway.

Although Iraqi Kurdistan has fared rather well in the new Iraq with shiny new buildings and Americanesque suburbs being built, the country's politics are more corrupt than ever and greatly tainted by cronyism. There is a strong accountable deficit because the PUK and the KDP no longer check one another but are united in common accord. So despite the new prosperity, a vibrant and accountable democratic politics has been taken shape.

Mr. Nawshirwan Mustafa, the founded of Goran, wants to change all of that. He is running on a list that champions not only a clear order in Kurdish politics, but he also states that he will more effectively defend Kurdish interests with the central government in Baghdad.

Those interests are a strong point of division between Arabs and Kurds. The Kurds want to incorporate the oil-rich city of Kirkuk into their self-administered region. Kirkuk has always been a Kurdish city [Saddam Hussein tired to Arabize it], but the Arabs are not keen on relenting control due to the oil. There are also the provinces of Nineveh and Diyala which, if incorporated by the Kurds, would nearly double their region. Thus both regions, especially Diyala which borders Baghdad, would reduce the scope of plenary control in Iraq for the central government. Referendums on the status of this regions have consistently been forestalled by Baghdad's election commission. This dispute has escalated with some aggressive words being uttered from the Kurds.

In his trip to Washington D.C., Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki stated that the ongoing dispute with the Kurds was a dangerous challenging facing the country.

Mr. Mustafa claims that he would be better placed to defends the Kurds in Baghdad. Ironically, however, his Goran party has the ability to fraction Kurdish representation in Iraqi parliament thus undermining the Kurds' weight in negotiations. Mr. Mustafa could put aside difference for the sake of a united Kurdish front, but that would entail signing on with people he has accused of corruption and thus undermining the credibility of his party's anti-corruption platform that has won it so much Kurdish support.

THERE is a hint of excitement in the air as Iraq’s Kurds vote for a regional assembly and a president on Saturday July 25th. Politics in Iraqi Kurdistan have long been dominated by the Kurdistan Patriotic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). As usual, they have clubbed together to form the Kurdistani List and as such are likely to win the election. But they may not win as comprehensively as they have done in the past.