KDP, PUK resume talks in Erbil on KRG formation

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) on Tuesday began talks at the KDP politburo headquarters in Erbil’s Pirmam district on forming the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet and Kurdish representation in Baghdad, Rudaw has learned.

According to Rudaw’s information, the KDP delegation is led by senior party figure and politburo member Hoshyar Zebari, and includes Pishtiwan Sadiq, the current KRG minister of endowment and religious affairs and a politburo member, as well as Dilshad Shahab, a member of the party’s Central Committee.

The PUK delegation is headed by Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and includes politburo member Rewaz Fayaq, Derbaz Kosrat Rasul, and KRG Cabinet Secretary Amanj Rahim.

The Kurdistan Region's ruling KDP and PUK "have agreed to hold talks regarding the formation of the [upcoming] Kurdistan Regional Government [cabinet] as well as Kurdish representation in Iraq's upcoming government," Hiwa Gaylani, a KDP Central Committee member, told Rudaw on Monday.

Separately, PUK politburo member Saadi Pira told reporters on Saturday that both sides were “optimistic” about reaching an agreement.

The Kurdistan Region held long-delayed parliamentary elections in October 2024, with the KDP winning 39 of the 100 seats and the PUK securing 23. With no party holding a majority, government formation talks have continued for months but recently stalled over disagreements on governance mechanisms and key posts.

The key wrangling is said to be on the post of the interior minister - the position which the KDP has traditionally held and insisted on maintaining.


This is a developing story…