Masoud Barzani, Bafel Talabani discuss united Kurdish front in Baghdad
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Masoud Barzani met with the co-chair of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Bafel Talabani on Monday in Salahaddin province to discuss the next stage for Iraq following last month’s parliamentary elections, and the importance of presenting a united Kurdish front in Baghdad. The meeting comes days after pro-Iran militia supporters rallied against the results, alleging unsubstantiated fraud.
Barzani briefed Talabni on the “national partnership project which is based on the national interest of all political issues,” a statement released by Barzani Headquarters stated.
They also discussed drafting a joint programme focused on “the formation of the next Iraqi government, establishing the principle of partnership in the government, implementing citizens’ demands and achieving stability,” it added.
The leaders also touched upon the latest security and economic developments in the Kurdistan Region, according to a statement by Talabani.
Iraqis voted in an early election on October 10. The KDP tied for third place with 33 seats, yet again holding the position as the largest Kurdish party in the Iraqi parliament, preliminary results released by the electoral commission showed. The PUK won 16 seats.
The KDP previously revealed that it has a plan for uniting Kurds in the legislative body. The plan includes engaging in intense talks with other Kurdish parties to present a united front in Baghdad and better serve the interests of the Region, Hoshyar Zebari told Rudaw’s Sangar Abdulrahman last month.
The KDP won 25 seats in the 2018 elections in Iraq. Their win in the recent election was unexpected to many, as the Kurdistan Region has been suffering from a financial crisis and the KDP-dominated Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has failed to pay its civil servants in full and on time for years.
The preliminary results also show that support for some of the strongest Iran-backed parties has waned, with their seats in parliament slashed. The losing parties have rejected the results, and many of their supporters have taken to the streets to protest. Friday’s protests in Baghdad were the second such demonstrations this month, after similar rallies turned violent on November 5.
The demonstrations came days after Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi escaped unhurt from an unclaimed drone attack on his residence in Baghdad’s Green Zone.
Barzani briefed Talabni on the “national partnership project which is based on the national interest of all political issues,” a statement released by Barzani Headquarters stated.
They also discussed drafting a joint programme focused on “the formation of the next Iraqi government, establishing the principle of partnership in the government, implementing citizens’ demands and achieving stability,” it added.
The leaders also touched upon the latest security and economic developments in the Kurdistan Region, according to a statement by Talabani.
Iraqis voted in an early election on October 10. The KDP tied for third place with 33 seats, yet again holding the position as the largest Kurdish party in the Iraqi parliament, preliminary results released by the electoral commission showed. The PUK won 16 seats.
The KDP previously revealed that it has a plan for uniting Kurds in the legislative body. The plan includes engaging in intense talks with other Kurdish parties to present a united front in Baghdad and better serve the interests of the Region, Hoshyar Zebari told Rudaw’s Sangar Abdulrahman last month.
The KDP won 25 seats in the 2018 elections in Iraq. Their win in the recent election was unexpected to many, as the Kurdistan Region has been suffering from a financial crisis and the KDP-dominated Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has failed to pay its civil servants in full and on time for years.
The preliminary results also show that support for some of the strongest Iran-backed parties has waned, with their seats in parliament slashed. The losing parties have rejected the results, and many of their supporters have taken to the streets to protest. Friday’s protests in Baghdad were the second such demonstrations this month, after similar rallies turned violent on November 5.
The demonstrations came days after Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi escaped unhurt from an unclaimed drone attack on his residence in Baghdad’s Green Zone.