The Daily Digest
The Kurdistan Region’s parliament elected the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s Vala Fareed as speaker on Wednesday with 52 votes, one more than the 51 required, after lawmakers from boycotting parties broke ranks to attend. Lawmakers also elected Rami Nouri, a Christian lawmaker from Ainkawa, as deputy speaker and Muna Kahveci of the Turkmen Reform Party as secretary, each with 52 votes. It was parliament’s first quorum since its opening sitting in December 2024. The KDP, which holds 39 seats, requested the sitting, while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, New Generation Movement and several opposition parties announced boycotts. Three lawmakers elected on the PUK’s list attended, including Hardi Salah and Mohammed Faisal, who have said they left the party and now sit as independents. Fareed said the elected leadership would remain in place regardless of future political agreements or the return of boycotting blocs. The KDP bloc said it was starting legal procedures for the Region’s presidency and formation of a new cabinet.
Abu Mujahid al-Assaf (KH — security official) accused Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and his office on Tuesday of tampering with the Popular Mobilization Forces bill intended for parliament, which received cabinet approval on 29 September. He demanded publication of both versions so the public could compare them. Sabereen News (KH — affiliated) published . On Wednesday, MP Abu Turab al-Tamimi said on Watan TV (Badr Organization — affiliated) that Badr insisted on . Separately, al-Assaf said on Tuesday that the Islamic Resistance’s . He also said the resistance . That complaint concerned receipt of the text, whereas Saud al-Saadi (KH — Hoquq bloc leader) had said Monday that . A senior Framework source told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday that the government was , through influential intermediaries.