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Kurdistan Regional GovernmentRepresentation in Italy

Roma - Lug 2019
The Kurdistan Parliament

The Kurdistan National Assembly (later renamed parliament) was established in 1992, in the first free and fair elections ever held in the Kurdistan Region or in any part of Iraq. The election was held just a year after the Kurdish Uprising of March 1991, when the people rose up against the Ba'ath regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in the aftermath of the liberation of Kuwait. The people of Kurdistan, as well as their political parties and leaders, wanted to hold their first ever democratic election, after decades of brutal dictatorship under the Iraqi central government. This was made possible by the no-fly zone created by the US, UK and France above the 36th line of latitude, which prevented attacks by Saddam Hussein's forces.
The people were hit by an international UN embargo on all of Iraq, including Kurdistan. Kurdistan also urgently needed an administration and legislature to fill the vacuum when Saddam Hussein withdrew his administration, and placed his own internal embargo on Kurdistan that stopped food and fuel supplies, disconnected electrical power and prevented the movement of people to other parts of the country.  
Faced with the administrative vacuum and double embargo, the Kurdistan Front, an alliance of diverse political groups in the Kurdistan Region, decided to hold a general election. Their goal was to establish an administration to provide for essential public services and to meet the basic needs of the people. The population also expressed a strong desire to choose its representatives.
The election, held on 19 May 1992, was the first free and fair parliamentary election in the history of Iraq. A minimum seven percent threshold was set for representation in the parliament. Voter turnout was very high and the elections were deemed to be free, fair, and democratic by international observers. After decades of dictatorship, the people in Kurdistan were able to vote for their representatives for the first time in their history.

This regional election led to the formation of the first Kurdistan National Assembly and the establishment of the Kurdistan Regional Government. The leadership and the people of the Kurdistan Region decided to adopt and abide by all Iraqi laws except for those that violated human and universal rights. By 15 July 1992, the Kurdistan National Assembly had convened. Law No. 1, the first law passed by the assembly, established the Assembly as the Region’s legislature.
To date there have been five region-wide parliaments, following elections in 1992, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2018.
In 2009 the Kurdistan National Assembly was renamed the Kurdistan Parliament.

There are 111 seats in the parliament (as stipulated by Law No. 1 passed in 1992). In February 2009 several amendments were made to the Kurdistan election law to increase the inclusiveness of all groups. The minimum age of parliamentary candidates was lowered from 30 to 25. The legal minimum quota of female parliamentarians was increased from 25 percent to 30 percent of the legislature. While seats had already been reserved in previous elections for minority communities, for the Christian and Turkmen parties this was increased to five seats each, and one seat for Armenian parties.
The Kurdistan Parliament has 15 standing committees that work on a wide range of subject areas. Much of parliament’s work takes place in these committees. Their mandate is to study bills (draft laws), propose bills and give opinions, study suggested amendments, and to submit them to Parliament’s leadership. Committees provide important input during the stages of passing a bill through Parliament into law. Committees also scrutinise the performance of government institutions in their area of work, and take evidence and opinions from experts and civil society. These mandates are in Article 38 of parliament’s procedural rules. 
According to Article 37 of Parliament’s procedural rules, committees are formed at the first session following a parliamentary election.
Legislative Committee
Finance and Economic Affairs
Peshmerga, Interior, Security and Local Councils
Agriculture and Irrigation
Education, Higher Education, and Scientific Research
Health, Environment and Consumer Rights
Martyrs’ Affairs, Genocide and Political Prisoners
Relations and Kurdish Diaspora
Kurdistani Areas outside KRG Administrative Area
Energy, Natural Resources, Commerce and Industry
Municipalities, Transport, Communication, Travel, Tourism, Reconstruction and Investment
Culture, Civil Society , Sports and Youth
Integrity, Parliament Affairs and Complaints
Endowments and Religious Affairs
Social Affairs, Protection of Women's Rights, and Human Rights
 

The Speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament is one of the three highest-ranking officials in the Kurdistan Region. The others are the President of the Region, and the Prime Minister of the Government.
The Speaker is elected by MPs at the beginning of a four-year parliamentary term following a general election. Only a current MP can be elected to the position.
The Speaker, supported by the Deputy Speaker and Secretary, chairs the proceedings in the parliamentary chamber. She decides who can speak, and puts questions to MPs for voting. She also enforces the rules to ensure the orderly conduct of business, gives MPs guidance on procedures, and rules on points of order if necessary. The Speaker must be fair and impartial to all MPs.
The Speaker and her deputies oversee Parliament’s agenda of work, and decide the timetable for parliament sittings and readings of bills. Together with the Deputy Speaker and the Secretary, the Speaker ensures that bills and other matters proceed through Parliament smoothly.   
The Speaker also represents the Kurdistan Parliament at events at home and internationally, and welcomes many officials from Kurdistan and abroad.
The Deputy Speaker and the Secretary of the Kurdistan Parliament are elected to their positions by MPs at the beginning of a four-year parliamentary term following a general election. They have the same range of responsibilities when acting in place of the Speaker, and in the absence of the Speaker they exercise all of her authority. The Deputy Speaker chairs parliament sittings in the Speaker’s absence. The Deputy Speaker and Secretary also support the Speaker in her representation of the Kurdistan Parliament at home and abroad.