Kurdish opposition parties are holding intensive talks to form a unified electoral coalition ahead of Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary elections in November, seeking to reshape the political landscape away from the dominance of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

According to Draw Media information the Kurdistan Justice Group initiated the efforts, holding a series of meetings with the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and the People’s Front, which resulted in a preliminary agreement to form a joint electoral alliance.

Contacts have also been made with the New Generation Movement (al-Jeel al-Jadeed-NGM) and the National Position Trend, both of which expressed initial approval to join the coalition. Discussions are underway with independent political figures and other groups to broaden support for the project, with a broader meeting expected in the coming days to finalize the coalition’s framework and electoral strategy, the sources added.

These developments come as the KDP and PUK are considering running on a joint list in disputed areas during the upcoming parliamentary elections, in an effort to secure stronger representation in these sensitive regions.