Senior PUK official says no alternative to KDP and PUK
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Three days ahead of the start of campaigning for Iraq’s parliamentary elections, a senior official from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said his party and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) are the best options for the Kurdistan Region, hitting out at a new party created by former PUK member Barham Salih.
"Don't say history has ended. Don't say these parties [KDP and PUK] have ended. You cannot easily be the alternatives. You can be part of the framework called the experience of Kurdistan. You cannot do better than us, KDP and PUK, with your speeches,” Mala Bakhtiar told supporters at a party event.
Bakhtiar was in the town of Said Sadiq in Sulaimani province to participate in a conference titled “Kurdistan Between Destruction and Development,” organized by the PUK.
The PUK and KDP are the traditional ruling parties, but new parties are seeking to challenge their dominance, beginning with Iraqi parliamentary elections on May 12.
Imagining a scenario where the PUK and KDP are not in power, Bakhtiar asked, “What would happen in Kurdistan? Can these parties do things better than us?"
In 2009, PUK member Nawshirwan Mustafa broke away from the PUK and formed Gorran. Last year, another PUK member Barham Salih formed the Coalition for Democracy and Justice (CDJ). A newcomer to the political stage, businessman Shaswar Abdulwahid, is also looking to shake things up with his New Generation Movement. They have all been critical of the ruling parties.
Bakhtiar lashed out at the opposition parties, saying that their criticism should be to point out shortcomings, but not attack the entity of the Kurdistan Region itself because it is already faced with threats. He argued that those participating in the Iraqi elections should direct their criticism towards the Iraqi government, because that is where they are headed.
"They don't want to upset anyone over the rights of the Kurds, over the budget of the Kurds, over Kurdistan's Kirkuk,” Bakhtiar lamented, listing points of dispute between Erbil and Baghdad.
Focusing on Barham Salih, who was formerly KRG prime minister, Bakhtiar asked why he had not “done better” when he was head of the government.
He predicted Salih will not be successful in his split from the “mother party” and threatened to fire and strip assets from anyone from the PUK found working for Salih’s CDJ.
Bakhtiar asked supporters to be calm and wise and not be led by those wishing to become "Trump" in the KRG.
Heated campaigns are expected ahead of the crucial elections. PUK’s politburo spokesperson Saadi Ahmed Pira has said that his party has requested meetings so that slanderous and hurtful language between Kurdish parties is avoided.
"Don't say history has ended. Don't say these parties [KDP and PUK] have ended. You cannot easily be the alternatives. You can be part of the framework called the experience of Kurdistan. You cannot do better than us, KDP and PUK, with your speeches,” Mala Bakhtiar told supporters at a party event.
Bakhtiar was in the town of Said Sadiq in Sulaimani province to participate in a conference titled “Kurdistan Between Destruction and Development,” organized by the PUK.
The PUK and KDP are the traditional ruling parties, but new parties are seeking to challenge their dominance, beginning with Iraqi parliamentary elections on May 12.
Imagining a scenario where the PUK and KDP are not in power, Bakhtiar asked, “What would happen in Kurdistan? Can these parties do things better than us?"
In 2009, PUK member Nawshirwan Mustafa broke away from the PUK and formed Gorran. Last year, another PUK member Barham Salih formed the Coalition for Democracy and Justice (CDJ). A newcomer to the political stage, businessman Shaswar Abdulwahid, is also looking to shake things up with his New Generation Movement. They have all been critical of the ruling parties.
Bakhtiar lashed out at the opposition parties, saying that their criticism should be to point out shortcomings, but not attack the entity of the Kurdistan Region itself because it is already faced with threats. He argued that those participating in the Iraqi elections should direct their criticism towards the Iraqi government, because that is where they are headed.
"They don't want to upset anyone over the rights of the Kurds, over the budget of the Kurds, over Kurdistan's Kirkuk,” Bakhtiar lamented, listing points of dispute between Erbil and Baghdad.
Focusing on Barham Salih, who was formerly KRG prime minister, Bakhtiar asked why he had not “done better” when he was head of the government.
He predicted Salih will not be successful in his split from the “mother party” and threatened to fire and strip assets from anyone from the PUK found working for Salih’s CDJ.
Bakhtiar asked supporters to be calm and wise and not be led by those wishing to become "Trump" in the KRG.
Heated campaigns are expected ahead of the crucial elections. PUK’s politburo spokesperson Saadi Ahmed Pira has said that his party has requested meetings so that slanderous and hurtful language between Kurdish parties is avoided.