Rumors About Talabani Swirl, as PUK Flails

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – With the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan flailing without much leadership, and at a crucial time when the next Kurdish cabinet is expected to be declared this month, rumors have increased that PUK leader Jalal Talabani may soon return to Kurdistan from medical care in Germany.  

Talabani’s son Qubad, who is a professional in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), has previously mentioned that his father “is willing to return to Kurdistan.”

Since December 2012 when Talabani was rushed to Germany after a serious stroke, the PUK has only released some photos of the ailing leader. But there have been no videos to show the extent to which Talabani -- who is also Iraq’s president – is able to move or talk. The pictures alone have not been enough for the public to gauge the degree of the ailing leader’s recuperation.

Latif Rasheed, who is the husband of Talabani’s sister-in-law and appeared in the president’s latest photos, said those pictures were taken last Newroz.

“On the day the photos were taken, Talabani was very happy. He congratulated us for Newroz and we spent a nice day together,” Rasheed said.

Rasheed also added that, “In the future videos and photos of Talabani will be released.” But he did not say when that would be, nor did he give any other details.

However, a source close to the Talabani family denied speculations both of his imminent return or that videos of him would be released anytime soon. “No videos of Talabani will be released,” the source said.

Earlier this month, three new photos of Talabani were released through the PUK media. The photos were taken in Berlin, the German capital, where Talabani has been since his stroke.

Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Islamic Union has demanded more information about the status of Talabani’s health.

“Talabani is not the property of the PUK alone. So it is more appropriate if they deal with his health status in a more transparent way,” said Muhammad Ahmed, politburo member of the Islamic Union.

The PUK has been reeling from a string of setbacks since Talabani’s sudden departure. In legislative elections last September, the party lost its place as Kurdistan’s second-largest party to the rival Change Movement (Gorran).  There are also serious differences among a triumvirate of the PUK’s top leadership.

Currently, party leaders who include Talabani’s wife Hero Ibrahim Ahmed, are engaged in last-ditch negotiations with other parties for senior ministerial positions in the new cabinet. The formation of the new government has been delayed since the elections, mainly due to PUK insistence on getting key security posts.

The main Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which as the largest vote-getter is charged with forming the new government, has warned that the new cabinet will be declared this month – with or without the PUK’s participation.

Some PUK officials have retorted that, if the party does not get the senior Interior Ministry and Peshmarga positions it has demanded, the party may go into opposition, or boycott the new government altogether.

Meanwhile, a Gorran official commented that releasing some photographs of the Iraqi president in Germany, at critical times during the past year, “is an insult to Talabani.”

“From what we know of Talabani, he would never approve the way his party’s leadership treat him and manipulate him. When he gets better and comes back, he will not forgive the current leadership of the PUK,” said the Gorran official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on behalf of the party.

“Talabani is a Kurdish, Iraqi and international political figure. It is a shame that they are treating him in this way.”