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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - As December 7 looms, skepticism has grown over whether or not the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) will hold its long-delayed congress, a development that has angered party officials and members.
The PUK is one of the region’s biggest political parties and currently administers Kurdistan’s Sulaimani province.
It has only held three congresses since its foundation in June 1975. Such meetings are held to discuss leadership structure and party hierarchy.
The death of party leader Jalal Talabani in 2017, Iraqi and Kurdistan Region parliament elections in May and September 2018 respectively, and long-time members leaving and rejoining the party have all contributed to the delay.
The party has been mired by internal setbacks in recent years - notably the formation of the breakaway Change Movement, Gorran, in 2009 by late PUK co-founder Nawshirwan Mustafa.
On October 10, 2013, the PUK held a general assembly lasting less than an hour. The mandate of the party leadership was extended and January 31, 2014, was proposed as the date for the fourth congress, which failed to materialize.
On January 1, 2018, PUK leadership said it would hold its fourth congress on March 5, 2018, but party members were unable to reach a final consensus on the date.
There are now growing fears it will be delayed once again.
In a strongly worded statement dated November 30, supporters of the congress called on the deputies of PUK secretary general, politburo, leadership council and congress organizers to go ahead with the meeting or be swept away by a "hurricane of anger."
The group, said to be associated with Lahur Talabani, added that they will not "agree with any attempts" at delaying the congress.
Talabani, the nephew of late PUK founder Jalal Talabani, is currently a member of the PUK leadership Council and head of the party's counter-terrorism forces.
He enjoys widespread support across the party's fan base and is expected to receive a top senior position in the party.
A PUK official, who is a senior congress preparations committee member spoke to Rudaw English on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the PUK's internal wranglings.
"In the latest PUK politburo meeting, some members suggested for the congress to be delayed," the official said, explaining that it is "highly likely" that it will not take place as planned.
Mala Bakhtyar, head of the PUK's executive body said he was unsure if the congress would take place on time.
“No one knows yet what are the plans and programs of the PUK will be or how the posts be distributed," he said.
"Look at the first, second and third congress. Six months before they were held, discussions were held and committees founded for them to prepare the party's programs," he said, adding that there is no similar initiatives currently taking place.
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