Kurdistan
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani speaking at MERI on October 30, 2024. Photo: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani on Wednesday urged parties to set aside differences, as the Kurdistan Region is gearing up to form a government, following the Region’s parliamentary elections.
“The more united Kurdistan is, the more united Kurdistan’s voice will be and the more we can endeavor for the rights of this people, in Baghdad and in foreign nations,” the PUK leader said during a panel at Middle East Research Institute (MERI) in Erbil, adding that his party is open to partnerships with any group that prioritizes “setting aside party interests” to “serving our people.”
His statement came hours after Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced the final results of the Kurdistan Region’s long-delayed parliamentary elections.
The Kurdistan Region held the legislative elections on October 20, with no party gaining enough seats to form a government alone. The winning parties will have to form a coalition in the 100-seat parliament.
“The process does not end after the elections, rather it is now that the depth of the process truly begins,” added the PUK leader.
In its election campaign rallies, which ran from September 25 to October 15, the PUK presented itself as an opposition force to the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), despite having partnered with the KDP in the previous governments.
"What is important for you to know is that we are ready to come to an agreement with all fronts, but if a front does not come forward then we will not sit and wait," Talabani said in reference to forming coalitions for the next government.
After the 2018 elections, the government formation process dragged on for more than a year due to disputes over the distribution of positions.
In the Region’s parliament elections, the KDP won 39 seats and the PUK 23. Forming the next cabinet requires at least 51 seats.
The most outspoken opposition, the New Generation Movement (NGM), led by businessman-turned-politician Shaswar Abdulwahid, won 15 seats, rising to become the third-largest party in the Region.
Decisive contenders for forming an alliance are the NGM and Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) which won seven seats, the National Stance Movement (Halwest) with four seats, the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal) with three seats, and the People’s Front (Baray Gal) with two seats.
They could potentially help either KDP or PUK reach the required majority, should the two ruling parties fail to form a coalition for the next government.
On Saturday, however, Komal announced that they will not take part in the next government.
"The atmosphere is better now for a serious change in Kurdistan," Talabani said.
During the last day of the campaign in the capital Erbil, Talabani promised reforms and to “create the best government,” admitting that his party had not done enough in the past which he attributed to a lack of a unified leadership within his party.
Following years of wrangling over who would succeed the late Jalal Talabani, his son Bafel Talabani, and nephew, Lahur Talabany were elected as the co-chairs of the PUK in February 2020, with the latter ultimately being ousted and subsequently formed Baray Gal (People’s Front).
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