ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – While Kurdish parties decided this month to adopt a common stance in negotiations with Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki reportedly claims that two major Kurdish parties have agreed to join him in a new majority government.
Haisam Jiburi, whose Kafa’a and Jamahir list joined Maliki’s State of Law coalition earlier this month, said he was informed by the premier that Kurdistan’s Change Movement (Gorran) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have reached a preliminary agreement to work with him in a majority government.
“Maliki informed us that there had been some negotiation with PUK and Gorran and that they have reached an initial agreement over the formation of a majority government,” Jiburi told Rudaw.
But a PUK official said his party did not agree with the idea of a majority government.
Maliki, fresh from parliamentary elections last month that were swept by his coalition, has been reaching out to Kurdish and other political parties in hopes of securing a third term as prime minister.
The premier has little support, even from fellow Shiite parties. But his coalition’s robust election win could mean he might be able to cobble together enough backing to remain in power. Maliki’s State of Law coalition and his other allies have altogether secured 120 of the parliament’s 328 seats.
Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani, who as head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) failed in a “no confidence” bid against Maliki in 2012, is steadfastly against a third term for the Shiite premier.
“If Barzani insists on his position, he can become an opposition and we will form the majority government with PUK and Gorran,” Jiburi quoted Maliki as saying in their meeting.
Ehsan Awadi, from the Kafa’a and Jamahir list, who was also in the meeting with Maliki, confirmed that the premier is looking to a third term and a majority government.
“It is decided that the next Iraqi government will be a majority government in a way that all Iraqi factions participate in the government,” Awadi said. “The Kurds must be represented in the government, but that does not mean that all Kurdish parties will be represented,” he told Rudaw.
He also reiterated that PUK and Gorran approve of a majority government, and that Barzani can go into opposition if he does not agree.
In a meeting this month headed by Barzani, all Kurdish political parties agreed to form a joint committee to carry out negotiations with Baghdad with one voice.
Adnan Mufti, a senior PUK leadership member, rejected that the PUK is in favor of a majority government. “The Kurds have decided to go to Baghdad as a team and to negotiate,” he said.
“We believe the majority government is not a good option and all sides should participate in the government,” Mufti said. “We should not repeat the previous mistakes.”
According to Rudaw sources, Barzani asked all Kurdish political parties not to show “leniency” on having Maliki chosen for the third term.
The New York Times newspaper has predicted that Maliki would be unable to stay for a third term, because he does not have the backing of even fellow Shiites.
Jiburi told Rudaw that another topic discussed in the meeting with Maliki was the position of Iraq’s next president, to replace the PUK’s ailing leader, Jalal Talabani. “We discussed the three candidates from PUK, Barham Salih, Najmaldin Karim and Fuad Masoum,” he said.
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