KDP-PUK balance of power unchanged in Iraqi elections 

The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission announced the results of the elections for the sixth session of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, which are preliminary and not subject to appeal. These results, based on 99.74% of the polling centers that reported to the Commission, show the traditional pattern for the prominent Kurdish parties in the federal region of southern Kurdistan.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) led the results of the Iraqi parliamentary elections in the provinces of the federal region of southern Kurdistan. It received 369,118 votes in Hawler and 413,690 votes in Duhok. It also ranked first in Nineveh with 189,000 votes, leading its competitors by a clear margin.

Conversely, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) came in second in Hawler with 79,301 votes, while it led in Sulaymaniyah with 240,000 votes and also took first place in Kirkuk with 178,629 votes. This reflects its continued popularity in its traditional areas within the Region and the disputed territories.

Based on the results of the 2021 and 2025 elections, a numerical comparison reveals the following:

The comparison between the results of the two Kurdish parties in the 2021 and 2025 elections indicates that the KDP maintained its electoral superiority and expanded the scope of its progress. Its presence increased in the provinces of the Region and federal Iraq by achieving first place in Hawler, Duhok, and Nineveh with higher vote counts than in previous cycles, reflecting the consolidation of its political and popular influence.

In contrast, the PUK maintained its traditional strength in Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk, with a notable presence in these two provinces. However, its overall representation appears stable without an expansion that matches the rise of the KDP.

A-H 

ANHA