During Wednesday’s talks, the PUK is expected to insist on getting its own candidate nominated for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Ministry of Interior as a means of splitting the security sector with the KDP.
The KDP has already rejected the PUK’s request to nominate a candidate for the post of chancellor in the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC), Rudaw has learned.
“In an attempt to have real partnership, we don’t want the security sector to be controlled by the KDP alone,” PUK leadership member Farid Asasar told Rudaw.
“Rather, we want to manage half of this sector. If only one party controls this sector, the other will have no role in running it.”
In their last meeting with the KDP, the PUK suggested another deputy or assistant post should be added to the presidency for administrative affairs and be handed to the PUK. This is due to be discussed in Wednesday’s meeting.
“I think we are 80 percent close to reaching an agreement. If we don’t, I don’t think we can wait anymore; the parliament will probably be amending the Kurdistan Region’s presidential law and electing the president of the Region. Then, the president of the Kurdistan Region will assign the winning list to form the new cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government,” KDP leadership member Nouri Hama Ali told Rudaw.
Talks to form a new government in the Kurdistan Region parliament have dragged on for months since the elections of September 30.
Although the KDP secured by far the most seats in the 111-seat parliament with 45, it does not command an overall majority. The Kurdistan Region is also politically divided on geographic lines, with Duhok and Erbil provinces controlled by the KDP and its affiliated Peshmerga, and Sulaimani and Halabja controlled by the PUK and its Peshmerga unit.
Although the PUK secured just 21 seats in the election, undercut by its nearest rival the Change Movement (Gorran) with 12 sets, it is widely recognized the party must play a significant role in the new government if decisions and laws made in Erbil are to command any authority in PUK areas.
The KDP has already struck initial deals with the PUK and Gorran, but many of the particulars – including who gets what posts in government – are yet to be ironed out.
The PUK is seeking the following posts:
Deputy president of Kurdistan Region
Deputy prime minister of KRG
Ministry of natural resources, interior, or finance
Ministry of municipality
Ministry of health
Ministry of planning
Investment body
Department of Foreign relations
However, the KDP is currently only willing to give to PUK the following posts:
Deputy president of Kurdistan Region
Deputy prime minister of KRG
Ministry of Peshmerga
Ministry of education
Ministry of reconstruction
Ministry of culture
Ministry of higher education
Deputy interior minister
Deputy minister of natural resources
