Kurdistan
Logos of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). Graphic: Rudaw
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) made “positive steps and good progress” in a meeting of their negotiation delegations for the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), a joint statement from the parties said on Tuesday.
“During the meeting, which was held in a friendly and positive atmosphere, discussions were held regarding the steps to form the new cabinet of the government, and there were positive steps and good progress,” the parties said in a joint statement about the meeting held in Erbil province’s Pirmam.
The meetings are expected to continue “in the coming days,” according to the statement.
The Kurdistan Region held delayed parliamentary elections in October. The KDP came out on top, securing 39 spots in the 100-member legislature. The PUK came in second with 23 seats. Since no single party won a majority, a governing coalition will need to be formed, as has traditionally been the case.
There is still no new government in place and the parliament has convened only once since the October 20 election. In its sole session on December 2, the legislature did not elect a speaker, deputy speaker, or secretary. No other sessions have been scheduled while they await a result from government formation talks between the KDP and PUK.
Fadhil Basharati, a former Kurdistan parliament lawmaker, said that the PUK has asked for the interior ministry in the next cabinet.
"They [the PUK] have asked for the interior ministry, as far as I know," Basharati, a KDP member, told Rudaw's Sangar Abdulrahman on Tuesday.
He explained that based on "the results of the election," the interior minister should belong to the winning party.
"The prime minister, based on the results of the election, has been decided and is the KDP's right," Basharati said.
Last week, KDP leader Masoud Barzani called on both parties to accelerate the government formation process and “finish the work as soon as possible.”
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, a KDP deputy leader, said on Tuesday that neither the KDP nor the PUK intends to delay the formation of the next cabinet, expressing hope that talks would soon resume.
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, also a KDP deputy leader, met with PUK leader Bafel Talabani in Erbil in March. Both sides described their discussions on forming a new government as “very good.”
PUK spokesperson Saadi Ahmed Pira told Rudaw in late March that the distribution of posts in the new cabinet would be decided after Eid al-Fitr in early April, noting that both sides were “very close” to reaching an agreement.
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