ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – In a significant display of political participation, Masoud Barzani, the prominent Kurdish leader and President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), cast his ballot in the sixth session of the Iraqi Council of Representatives elections on Tuesday.

The electoral process, closely watched across Iraq and the international community, marks a critical step in shaping the nation's future political landscape. President Barzani participated at a designated polling station in the town of Piramam, located within the Duhok Governorate of the Kurdistan Region.

His public participation is seen as a strong endorsement of the democratic process and a call for high voter turnout from his supporters and the Kurdish electorate at large. The Kurdish bloc is expected to play a crucial role in the formation of the next Iraqi government, with the KDP historically holding a significant number of parliamentary seats.

The elections for the 329-member Council of Representatives are being held amid a complex political and security climate in Iraq. The results will determine the composition of the legislature responsible for appointing the next President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq.

Analysts suggest that Barzani's visible involvement underscores the importance his party places on these national elections and its ongoing strategy to secure Kurdish interests within the federal framework of Iraq.

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) of Iraq is overseeing the voting process across the country. Preliminary results are anticipated in the coming days, which will set the stage for what are expected to be intense negotiations to build a governing coalition.