The Iraqi Administrative Court has dismissed legal challenges filed by the Iraqi Turkmen Front and the Arab Alliance contesting the validity of the Kirkuk Provincial Council's inaugural meeting in Baghdad, where a PUK candidate was elected as governor in agreement with three Sunni Arab members affiliated with Sunni leader Mohammed al-Halbousi. This ruling follows a similar dismissal last month of a related complaint lodged by the KDP.
The court's decision effectively legitimizes both the meeting proceedings and the new administration in Kirkuk, which is now led by the PUK governor.
The Iraqi Administrative Court has dismissed the KDP’s complaint regarding the formation of Kirkuk’s local government but has deferred rulings on separate complaints filed by the Turkmen Front and Rakan al-Jabouri to early next year.
While the KDP, Turkmen Front, and Rakan al-Jabouri (representing half of the Arab component) all filed objections to the local government’s formation, sources indicate that only the KDP’s complaint was rejected outright, with the other cases postponed to January 22.
On August 10, 2023, the PUK established a power-sharing agreement with a faction of the Arab bloc, supported by Mohammed al-Halbousi, at Baghdad's Rashid Hotel. The agreement secured legal quorum for forming the local government, allocating the governorship to PUK for the initial two years and the council presidency to the Arab bloc, with positions to be exchanged thereafter.
Subsequently, the KDP, Turkmen Front, and the opposing Arab faction (collectively holding 7 of 16 council seats) have boycotted council proceedings. These parties contest the legitimacy of the Rashid Hotel meeting and have filed legal challenges against the appointments of Governor Rebwar Taha and Council President Mohammed Hafez.
This represents the fifth adjournment of the Administrative Court's ruling on Kirkuk's governance case. Prior to the verdict on KDP's complaint, PUK President Bafel Talabani and Governor Rebwar Taha traveled to Baghdad for discussions with Faiq Zidan, head of the Judicial Authority, and other key Iraqi political figures.