The parties’ negotiating delegations, headed by senior KDP member Hoshyar Zebari and the Kurdistan Region’s Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, from the PUK, met for the first time since late last month with mounting pressure from the international community to form the next regional government, Rudaw has learned.
The Kurdistan Region held delayed parliamentary elections in October, with the KDP emerging as the victor with 39 seats in the 100-member legislature. The PUK came in second with 23 seats. As no party won a majority, a coalition government will need to be formed, as has traditionally been the case.
A KDP central committee member told Rudaw after their April 28 meeting that the PUK had requested several high-level ministerial portfolios, including the positions of interior and natural resources ministers, but the KDP only offered the Peshmerga ministry.
But Zebari on Sunday said that the parties are close to forming the next government.
KDP leader Masoud Barzani on Thursday said in a party meeting that they are “making every effort” to form the next regional government “as soon as possible,” but stressed that “a government will not be formed on a 50-50 basis” as the KDP won the most number of seats.
The ongoing deadlock has significantly impacted the Kurdistan Region’s legislative process. Since the October elections, the regional parliament has convened only once. No further meetings have been scheduled, as lawmakers await the outcome of government formation talks.
