PUK’s General Leadership Council holds first meeting since party congress

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region-  The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK) General Leadership Council has held its first meeting since the conclusion of the contentious party congress last month, with the body announcing it will start working on  party bylaws.

“Today, Tuesday, January 14, 2020, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s General Leadership Council held its first meeting since the 4th Congress, and the meeting was chaired by comrade Mustafah Chawrash, as the eldest member of the Leadership,” read a council issued on Tuesday.

The body also formed a committee to revise the previous PUK bylaws.

The General Leadership Council, which will elect the party leadership and determine the PUK's future structure, is believed to eventually cut down on its current 121-member status. 

“A decision was made for all the institutions and organs of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan to continue their normal daily work until the new structure of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is reorganized on the part of the General Leadership Council,” the statement added.

On December 21, following years of delay, the PUK held its much contentious party congress, the first since the death of beloved party founder Mam Jalal.

Party rivalry and a host of other issues had prevented the congress from being held. About  1,000 party members were elected into the congress. Based on a vote,  the PUK formed the Supreme Political Council, which will be headed by Kosrat Rasul Ali, formerly acting leader of the party.

The Supreme Political Council acts mostly in an advisory role, has veto power over certain decisions  and is the PUK's offical representation.

The party congress legalized the significant influence that Lahur Sheikh Jangi, nephew of Mam Jalal and head of PUK’s counterterrorism forces, and Baffel Talabani, the son of Mam Jalal, held within the party.

Other wings of the party resisted turning the party into a family enterprise, however.