KDP and PUK Set to Resume Government Formation Talks Next Week

KDP and PUK Set to Resume Government Formation Talks Next Week

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) are expected to meet next week to restart stalled negotiations on forming the Kurdistan Region’s tenth cabinet, according to a senior PUK official.

PUK politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani said the meeting had originally been planned for Tuesday but was postponed. He did not give a reason for the delay, and the KDP has not commented on the rescheduled talks.

Focus on Cabinet Formation and Key Portfolios

Representatives from both parties have indicated that discussions will once again center on distributing ministerial positions and finalizing the structure of the next Kurdistan Regional Government. The October 2024 parliamentary elections resulted in the KDP winning 39 seats and the PUK securing 23 seats, leaving neither with a majority.

Talks have been deadlocked for months, with disagreements over governance frameworks and key posts—particularly the interior ministry, a portfolio traditionally held by the KDP and one it insists on keeping.

PUK Delegation Holds Consultations in Baghdad

Talabani also led a PUK delegation to Baghdad last week to meet with Iraqi political leaders as federal government formation efforts continue nearly a month after Iraq’s national elections.

“Our meetings helped clarify the approaches of the Iraqi parties,” Talabani said. “We sensed a stable and organized process and hope it leads to forming the next federal government.”

The PUK won 18 seats across Iraq in the November 11 election, making it the country’s eighth-largest party and the second-largest Kurdish bloc.

Talabani emphasized that the PUK views itself as an Iraqi party with a vision for a “strong Iraq,” arguing that the Kurdistan Region benefits from stability at the federal level.

Race for the Iraqi Presidency

The presidency—traditionally held by the PUK since 2005—remains a point of contention between the two Kurdish parties. Talabani said the PUK has not yet selected a nominee, though it intends to do so.

During his Baghdad visit, Talabani met with Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law coalition, who reportedly discussed the presidency in detail. Talabani did not mention this topic in his own readout of the meeting.

The KDP has made clear it intends to challenge the PUK for the post. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, a senior KDP figure, said both parties may present their own candidates in parliament if an agreement cannot be reached.

“It would be better for the KDP and PUK to reach a deal, but if not, the competition could be intense,” Hussein said.