PUK leaders say party congress will take place as scheduled on December 21

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Following years of delay and multiple postponements, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leaders insist that the party congress will be held on December 21.

“All preparations for the party congress are in their final stages, and the congress will be held on its designated date,” Lateef Sheikh Omer, PUK Spokesperson, told Rudaw on Thursday.

“There is no decision to postpone the congress, and all political issues related to the congress have already been settled,” Fareed Assasard, PUK Leadership Council member, told Rudaw on Thursday.

The PUK, the second dominant party in the Kurdistan Region, has not held a party congress for more than 9 years due to internal rivalry between its different factions.  The last PUK congress was held on June 1, 2010 and is one of three in the party’s history.

After months of wrangling, the PUK Leadership Council decided in September that the congress would be held on December 7. However, earlier this month, the party decided once more to postpone the congress, much to the dismay of party members.

PUK’s founder, former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, died in 2017. Prior to his death, Talabani’s ongoing health issues, including a severe stroke, delayed several planned PUK congress dates.  The post of party leader has remained vacant since his death. The rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) also delayed the PUK succession process.

Kosrat Rasul, first deputy for the Secretary General of the PUK, is the party’s interim leader and top decision maker. Behind him is current Iraqi president Barham Salih, who serves as the PUK’s second deputy. 

Behind the scenes, however, powerful figures like Baffel Talabani, Jalal’s son, and Lahur Talabani, Jalal’s nephew and the head of the PUK’s powerful counterterrorism forces, wield significant influence.

According to PUK leadership member Polla Sirwan Talabani, more than 500 people have already nominated themselves. She told Rudaw on Thursday that the large amount of nominations reflected the "free atmosphere" the party has created for its membership.

Sirwan Talabani denied the notion that powerful figures within the party settle everything behind closed doors or make prior agreements before the Congress begins. She stated, "Everything will be done in the Congress. Everything will be put up to voting and discussions in the congress among the colleagues."

"The most important thing in the new party byline that the colleagues in the party congress would vote for is certainly the administrative system of PUK – all of it will be changed," added Talabani.

Both Kosrat Rasul and Barham Salih are eyeing the position of Secretary General. However, it is not clear if the current party structure will remain in place. The congress, the duration of which is yet to be determined, could lead to the unofficial power and influence of young figures like Lahur Talabani and Baffel Talabani being augmented by official party leadership positions.

“The congress is an internal process of the party, and steps towards holding the congress are ongoing very well. We will try to have a good and suitable congress and present forth a beautiful image of renewal,” Kosrat Rasul, acting Secretary General, told UK Ambassador to Iraq Stephen Hickey. 


Party leaders have assured skeptics that the congress date of December 21 will go ahead as scheduled, reiterating that planning is in the final stages and only final touches remain.