PUK invites KDP to unite efforts to confront Iraq’s political crisis

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) on Monday invited rival Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) to unite their efforts and present a unified “national package” in the face of the political crisis that Iraq is currently struggling with.

The PUK sent out a congratulatory message to the KDP on the anniversary of its establishment, saying they hope the occasion provides an opportunity to strengthen the relations between the two parties in order to confront the obstacles they have encountered in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq through "mutual understanding."

The PUK stated that they “hope” Kurdish political parties can present a united stance to address the outstanding political issues and movements, especially in Iraq, inviting the parties to confront the current political impasse in Iraq in a unified “national and Kurdistani package.”

The KDP celebrates its 76th anniversary on Tuesday, also marking the birthday of the party’s President Masoud Barzani. The party released a statement earlier on Sunday in celebration of the occasion.

“The region, Iraq, and Kurdistan are currently going through a sensitive and difficult stage, the political and economic issues are constantly on the rise, that is why we must all step towards resolution,” read the statement from the KDP, adding that the party is “as always” looking towards peace and “internal unity.”

Iraq has been in the midst of a political crisis in recent months, which has been further deepened by calls for the dissolution of the parliament and holding of new snap elections by influential Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr, and ongoing sit-in protests by his supporters in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone.

The political process in Iraq has been stalled by the inability of the parliament’s political blocs to agree on the formation of a new government, 10 months following the elections of October 2021.

Disagreement between the KDP and the PUK over who should fill the position of Iraq’s president, a role reserved for the Kurdish component, has been one of the main factors of the political deadlock in the country.