PUK Names Qubad Talabani Deputy Prime Minister

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) named on Sunday Qubad Talabani as deputy prime minister for the eighth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

The 37-year-old candidate was chosen by leaders of his party to become Nechirvan Barzani’s deputy in the new government yet to be formed.

Qubad Talabani is the son of Jalal Talabani, the secretary general of the PUK who has also been Iraq’s president since 2005. The Iraqi president is currently convalescing from a stroke he suffered in 2012 in a German hospital.

The PUK is expected to officially submit Qubad Talabani’s name to Kurdistan Region’s presidency and parliament for endorsement.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) that was the winner of the September 21 parliamentary polls welcomed PUK’s nomination.

“The post of deputy prime minister of Kurdistan had been designated for the PUK and he [Qubad Talabani] is their choice for which we congratulate them,” Kakamin Najar, a member of the KDP leadership council told Rudaw.

This development brings Erbil closer to forming a government after almost eight months of negotiations between the PUK and KDP leaders.

So far no political party appears opposed to Talabani’s nomination as deputy prime minister.

Muhammad Tofiq Rahim, the head of the diplomatic relations of the Change Movement (Gorran) said that the decision belonged to the PUK only and “they have appointed him [Talabani] for that post.”

Mawlud Bawamurad, an official from the Islamic Union (Yekgirtu) said that his party congratulates the PUK and “wishes Talabani success.”

A leader of the Islamic League (Komal) meanwhile, pointed to the reputation of Qubad Talabani’s father as a well-known and influential Kurdish and Iraqi politician.

“But how successful he will be at this new post remains to be seen in the future,” said Abdulsattar Majid from Komal. “And apparently the PUK has seen him suitable for this post.”

Talabani served as the KRG representative in Washington DC until 2012 when he returned to Erbil to become the Minister of Coordination and Follow-up in Barzani’s previous cabinet.

Talabani had the support of most senior leaders of his party. However, Rudaw has learned from a source inside the PUK that Sheikh Jaafar Mustafa, the former minister of Peshmerga, Mahmoud Sangawi and Azad Jundiani were opposed to the nomination, voting in favor of Hakim Qadir, a senior leader and former head of Sulaimani municipality.

Most importantly however, Talabani had the backing of Kosrat Rasul, the PUK deputy chief. Meanwhile, the view of Barham Salih, isn’t known since he reportedly didn’t attend the meeting that elected Qubad Talabani for his new position.