4th PUK congress kicks off after years of delay

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The long-awaited fourth congress of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party (PUK) kicked off in Sulaimani on Saturday afternoon.

Kosrat Rasul Ali, formerly both the party's acting leader and First Deputy for the Secretary General, was elected head of the PUK Supreme Political Council by a majority vote, official party media reported on Saturday evening.

Iraqi President and former PUK Second Deputy General Barham Salih, Deputy Prime Minister of the KRG Qubad Talabani, and Speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament Rewaz Fayeq were elected members of the PUK's General Leadership Council by a majority vote, party media outlets later reported.

The second dominant party in the Kurdistan Region after the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the PUK has failed to hold its fourth congress for years due to internal issues, the death of its founder Jalal Talabani in 2017 and the war against the Islamic State (ISIS). Its last congress was held on June 1, 2010. 

"I am asking you all to turn on a new page in your political life," Rasul Ali told the crowd in the PUK stronghold of Sulaimani.

About 1,000 members of the party are attending the congress, elected in the last few weeks in four provincial elections by its offices throughout the Kurdistan Region  

The party’s General Leadership Council is expected to be elected out of 500 nominees. The 121 members will then elect members of other councils, such as the Legislation council, at a later date. 

Faraidun Abdulqadir, a politician and former member of the PUK politburo said that elections for the majority of posts and positions within the PUK will take place tomorrow.

"I do not think there is going to be any elections to fill in the posts today. Until yesterday, everyone was saying that Dr. Barham Salih will be elected the president of the PUK. But things within the PUK can change in an hour. Therefore, there might be someone else becoming the president."

Latif Nerwayi, a spokesperson for the PUK, told reporters on Saturday that it is not clear how many days the congress will last but he expects it to be a success.

“Today, we are holding the carnival of the Kurdistan Patriotic Union’s victory, development and unity,” he said.

“The congress aims at the renewal of the PUK and fight for Mam Jalal’s ideology,” added Nerwayi, referring to Jalal Talabani.  

"We enjoy good relations with the PUK. We hope the outcomes of the congress will mark a new healthy political process between them and all the other political parties of Kurdistan," said Aram Ahmad, spokesperson of the Kurdistan Islamic Group (Komal).

"Any party's congress impacts the political process of Kurdistan and the people of the Kurdistan Region given their fan base and influence in the political arena of the Region. Therefore we are looking forward to a successful congress from the PUK," he added. 

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 Barhim Salih, who serves as the PUK's second deputy. 

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

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 could lead to the unofficial power and influence of young figures like Lahur Talabani and Bafel Talabani being augmented by official party leadership positions.

Rudaw has also learnt that Dr. Fuad Masum, a founding PUK member and former president of Iraq is highly likely to enter the race to become the PUK president.

Head of KDP National Relations Ali Hussein said that his party will "respect any decision the PUK makes."

Updated 7:20 pm