The Third Way: How New Generation Tries to Stay Relevant in Kurdistan Elections
The largest opposition group and the movement likely to garner the most votes outside of the KDP and PUK is the New Generation movement, led by Shaswar Abdulwahid.
While the heated conflict between Bafel Talabani and Masrour Barzani has been overshadowing opposition groups, New Generation remains prominent thanks to its widely watched NRT TV network. New Generation's electoral strategy is notable as it avoids focusing on individual candidates, instead aiming to maximize votes for the movement as a whole. This approach aligns with the semi-open electoral system, where voters can either select specific candidates or vote for an entire party list.
Shaswar Abdulwahid's campaign style is distinctively social media-savvy. He often presents simple yet practical promises that resonate with ordinary voters. For example, in one video, he stands between two Dutch dairy cows, explaining how importing such livestock could boost dairy production as part of rural area revitalization. His message consistently emphasizes rejecting both the KDP and PUK, arguing that their mutual attacks are merely electoral theater and that they will resume cooperation immediately after the elections.
Forecasting New Generation's electoral performance is challenging because their support comes primarily from "swing voters" - those typically unaffiliated with established political parties. In the last Iraqi parliamentary elections, they matched the PUK's vote count in Sulaimani and surpassed them in Erbil, becoming the second-largest party there while also securing significant support in Duhok. However, New Generation's voter base remains unpredictable, and at least two other new parties - People’s Front led by Lahur Sheikh Jangi and Halwest led by Ali Hama Saleh - compete for the same demographic.
The movement's candidates are generally not high-profile figures. Voters typically support New Generation because of the movement itself, its leader Shaswar, and possibly the influence of NRT TV. This low-profile candidate strategy might be a response to past experiences - in both Iraqi and Kurdistan elections, many successful candidates under the New Generation banner defected from the party after winning their seats, despite owing their positions to Abdulwahid. Therefore, selecting less prominent candidates may be a tactical decision to ensure greater loyalty and easier management of elected MPs once they take office.