PUK sets tentative congress date
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – After months of discussions, the PUK has set a date for its congress – March 5.
“By a majority vote, it was decided in today’s meeting for the PUK to hold congress on March 5, 2018,” PUK Media quoted Rewaz Fayaq, a member of the party’s Leadership Council, as saying.
She added, however, that the date could be discussed again in a meeting on Saturday.
The party also decided on an interim leadership to run affairs until the congress.
“Ten leadership members will together with Kosrat Rasul run PUK affairs,” Fayaq added.
Kosrat Rasul has been acting head of the party since the death of leader and founder Jalal Talabani last year. His younger son, Qubad Talabani, has been tipped to replace him.
“The 10 members have not yet been selected. They will be chosen in Saturday’s meeting through a vote,” she said, explaining that the decision was postponed because 12 leadership members did not attend the meeting on Thursday.
The PUK, one of the two ruling parties that form the Kurdistan Regional Government, has faced a series of crises since last year such as the loss of the party’s stronghold of Kirkuk to Iraqi forces on October 16, a loss the PUK has largely been held responsible for.
“By a majority vote, it was decided in today’s meeting for the PUK to hold congress on March 5, 2018,” PUK Media quoted Rewaz Fayaq, a member of the party’s Leadership Council, as saying.
She added, however, that the date could be discussed again in a meeting on Saturday.
The party also decided on an interim leadership to run affairs until the congress.
“Ten leadership members will together with Kosrat Rasul run PUK affairs,” Fayaq added.
Kosrat Rasul has been acting head of the party since the death of leader and founder Jalal Talabani last year. His younger son, Qubad Talabani, has been tipped to replace him.
“The 10 members have not yet been selected. They will be chosen in Saturday’s meeting through a vote,” she said, explaining that the decision was postponed because 12 leadership members did not attend the meeting on Thursday.
The PUK, one of the two ruling parties that form the Kurdistan Regional Government, has faced a series of crises since last year such as the loss of the party’s stronghold of Kirkuk to Iraqi forces on October 16, a loss the PUK has largely been held responsible for.