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Kurdistan
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) supporters wave party flags emblazoned with the face of late founding leader Jalal Talabani at a rally. File photo: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK) long-planned party congress is set to go ahead on December 7, 2019, party high ranking leaders told Rudaw as new faces are slated to rise in the ranks of the 44 year-old party.
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 congress was held on June 1, 2010 and is one of three in the party’s history. The meeting will decide the leadership of one of Kurdistan’s main parties, and enshrine the power of several influential figures.
Its founder, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, died in 2017. His post of party leader has remained vacant since his death.
The PUK currently administers Kurdistan’s Sulaimani province, after splitting from rival party the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in the 1970s.
The illness of late Iraqi President and party founder Jalal Talabani, coupled with the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS), prevented several planned meetings from taking place.
The meeting will host 1000 people, 500 of whom are already confirmed attendees, including members of the Leadership and Central councils, MPs from both regional and federal parliaments, former leadership and veteran members.
“Without a doubt, next month, the fourth PUK congress will be held. The congress comrades will decide on who becomes the secretary,” Blessa Jabar Farman, PUK Leadership Council member, told Rudaw.
The path towards the congress, however, is a rough one. Ahmed Qadafari, Central Council member and deputy head of Shahrazour office of PUK, revealed to Rudaw that some leadership members are trying to predetermine the list of congress members in a bid to have control over the future structure of the party.
Qadafari added that this party congress must “honestly” discuss some matters, particularly the issue of prominent leaders leaving the party and then returning.
In January 2018, current Iraqi President Barham Salih, who is also second deputy secretary general of PUK, effectively split from the PUK and established his own party, the Coalition for Democracy and Justice.
However, months later Salih returned to the PUK, to become its sole candidate for the Iraqi Presidency.
This in turn angered PUK executive Mala Bakhtyar, who effectively boycotted the party in protest against Salih’s return. He now has come back to the fore demanding the party congress.
Kosrat Rasul is the top decision maker, appointed as caretaker after Talabani’s death. Behind him is Barham Salih, the second deputy.
Behind the scenes, however, powerful figures like Baffel Talabani, Jalal’s son and Lahur Talabani, the head of PUK’s powerful counterterrorism forces and Jalal's nephew, are wielding significant influence.
Both Kosrat Rasul and Barham Salih are eyeing the position of the Secretary General. However, it is not clear if the current party structure will remain in place.
“Mr. Kosrat is currently the highest official of PUK. He has dedicated most of his life to his party. It is the congress’ ability to elect him as the Secretary General. I myself consider Mr. Kosrat the suitable person for the position,” Mohammed Watman, Leadership Council member, and a close associate of Kosrat Rasul, told Rudaw.
“No Secretary will be elected for the PUK, and the old system will no longer be used,” said the source who wanted to remain anonymous on the sensitive topic, repeating claims of heated rivalry between cousins Baffel and Lahur Talabani.
While the new generation is trying to enter the race, some of the older faces won’t give up either.
Mahmoud Sangawi, a Peshmerga military commander and prominent PUK member, told Rudaw that he will also nominate himself for the congress.
“I won’t leave PUK at this time. Due to my age, I had previously decided not to nominate myself at all, so that the youth come forward, but this isn’t the time to leave our party,” Sangawi said.
With reporting by Ziryan Haji
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