On May 19, 1992, both Presidential elections and 1992 Kurdistan Region parliamentary election were held.[1] During the first-round presidential elections Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Massoud Barzani won slightly more votes than his main rival Jalal Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, however neither won a majority of votes, which was required to become president.[2] While the election was initially called for 16 May 1992,[3] it was delayed due to concerns about ink delibility leading to voter fraud.[4] The elections were described as free and fair by international observers.[5][6] Amnesty International reports that some smaller parties alleged irregularities.[7]
Due to both leaders fearing they might lose in a run-off, the second round was never held and the Kurdistan Regional Government decided to move on without a president.[8] Instead they established an 8-man Presidency Council consisting of four members of each party.[9] Meanwhile, they agreed on a power sharing agreement in the Kurdistan Parliament and Council of Ministers. This power-sharing agreement broke down in 1994 and resulted in a civil war that lasted until 1998, after which Kurdistan Region was divided into a PUK-controlled zone in the southeast and a KDP-controlled zone in the northwest.[2]
