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ORSAM
CENTER FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STRATEGIC STUDIES
social programmes in favor of electors to be
the primary variable to come into power. This
would lead the general interest to be put ahead
of personal interests and the interests of
political party.
Although there are many political parties in
the region and the formation of parties are regulated
by law 75 , there is not exactly a multiparty
system in the region. Because in parallel
with the aforementioned reports, KDP and
PUK which are the parties in power use the
public budget and the resources of government
agencies in the region in their election
campaigns. 76
Also, those two parties exert pressure on other
parties. Sometimes, without cutting off
financial aid, headquarters of other political
parties are assaulted and set on fire. 77 Especially,
these attacks take place especially in the
region under the control of KDP. That’s why,
almost a single-party system is seen in the regions
where KDP and PUK are in control in
KRG.
Implementing peaceful democracy requires
having constitutional, judicial, and political
opportunities to peacefully transfer the power
among the conflicting political parties.
Because peacefully coming into power leads
to an open political competition with broad,
free popular participation without any discrimination.
78
The message sent to the party not voted aims
to revise program and projects of the party.
In this case, the party which loses the power
and/or elections has to revise its program and
projects. In addition to this, the party also
has to reorganize its structure and to change
some symbols. Hence, more active and new
projects will be prepared for the next elections.
From this point of view, this would lead
to reorganization and restructuring of political
parties in democratic regime.
Also another message is sent to the party
which wins the elections in peaceful transfer
of the power: According to this message, the
authorities given by the electors are not the
absolute authorities. The message says that
they will end up like the other party which
loses, in case the promises given to electors
are not kept and the public interest is not met.
Based on this, peaceful transfer of the power
leads to a dynamic and continuous renewal of
the political process. Also it does not conflict
with the public interest and puts it ahead of
personal interests and the narrow interests of
political party.
Although the democratic system experience
in KRG has been going on for more than two
periods, its peaceful transfer of power has not
yet been completed. Despite the change of
position between KDP and PUK, neither of
them has made a complete power transfer to
the other one. Equal opportunities have not
been provided for other parties and groups
competing for the power, and they could not
come into power despite winning the elections.
Hence, as Molla Bahtiyar said in the political
bureau elections of KDP, the most important
question is; “Will KDP and PUK accept
the electoral victory of any political party
in the future, and voluntarily give the power
to them? 79
In conclusion, despite the existence of some
elements of democracy such as elections, free
media, presence of political parties etc., deficiencies
and violations would prevent the democratic
process in KRG from being completed.
3. CONSEQUENCES AND
SUGGESTIONS
1. Consequences
1. Injustice, inequity, genocide, nationalism
and disrespect to human rights by dictator re-
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ORSAM
Report No: 151, April 2013