Asked by: John Slinger (Labour - Rugby)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the outcome of the recent parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan region in Iraq.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK was pleased to welcome the Kurdistan Region of Iraq's parliamentary election which took place on 20 October 2024. This election was an essential opportunity for the people of the Region to have their voices heard, as demonstrated by the high turnout (72%). After two-years of delays, this election contributes to the renewal of the Kurdistan Regional Government's democratic legitimacy.
We look forward to the resumption of the regional parliament and the formation of a regional government as soon as possible.
The UK continues to support a thriving Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) within a peaceful and prosperous Iraq. Through our diplomatic engagements with the KRI's political parties, we still urge greater cooperation between them to confront shared economic, political and security challenges.