ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan Region’s largest Islamic party has withdrawn from the KRG, becoming the third party to do so.
Salahadin Bahadin, the KIU leader, told reporters they had worked hard to continue with the KRG, but it was no longer possible due to their “moral duty.”
An atmosphere of lack of respect between the political parties “did not allow the journey of the [KRG] to continue,” he said.
“We wanted to continue and we worked in this regard, despite our reservations,” Bahadin said, but the government did not provide a “proper response” to a list of demands from his party, especially on the issue of delays paying the salaries of state employees.
In late December, the KIU conditioned its staying in the KRG on a number of demands that included government reforms.
The KIU’s withdrawal leaves just the two traditional ruling parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), in the coalition that was formed following 2013 parliamentary elections.
Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and his Deputy Qubad Talabani met with the KIU leadership on Monday – the deadline for withdrawal set by the party.
The KDP, with 38 seats, and the PUK, with 18 seats, together with the votes of minorities such as Christians and Turkmens still enjoy a majority in the 111-seat parliament.
Gorran, with 23 seats, Kurdistan Islamic Group (Komal), 6 seats, and KIU, with 10 seats, were part of the official parliamentary opposition from 2009 to 2013. They all then joined the coalition government dominated by the KDP and PUK in 2013.
When Gorran and Komal withdrew from the KRG late last year, Barzani said he respects their decision, but criticized the timing, nothing that elections are coming up in the first half of 2018.
The KIU holds a number of senior positions within the government including Ministry of Transport that is tasked with holding talks with the government of Iraq on the ongoing ban on international flights to and from the Kurdistan Region.
Bahadin said they will help in every way possible from outside the KRG, adding that their move is not against any one party.
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