Peter Galbraith, former United States Ambassador to Croatia, speaking to Rudaw in Duhok on November 19, 2025. Photo: Screengrab/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region’s political parties, represented in Baghdad, have a real opportunity to secure full implementation of Iraq’s constitution as talks to form a new government have begun to take shape following the recent parliamentary elections, a former US diplomat and renowned author told Rudaw. He further emphasized that the Kurds’ conditions are both clear and achievable.
Peter Galbraith, former US ambassador and ex-advisor to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, noted that “the federal government is going to need” the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) “to form a government.”
If the Kurdish parties stick to their demands, “they have a good chance of success,” he added.
Iraq held early legislative elections on November 9, followed by the general vote on November 11.
The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced the final results on Monday, with the KDP ranking first in total votes for a single party with over 1.1 million votes and securing 27 seats in the 329-member parliament. Meanwhile, the PUK garnered around 550 thousand votes, securing 15 seats in the federal legislature.
President Masoud Barzani, leader of the KDP, on Tuesday outlined his party’s demands for the upcoming period.
Speaking at the Middle East Peace and Security (MEPS) Forum in the Kurdistan Region’s northern Duhok province on Tuesday, President Barzani called for the establishment of a Federal Council under Article 65 of the 2005 Iraqi Constitution, serving as an upper house representing Iraq’s regions and provinces, including the Kurdistan Region.
He further urged the implementation of Article 140 to resolve disputed territories in Kirkuk, Diyala, Nineveh, and Salahaddin provinces. The process includes reversing demographic changes, restoring property rights, conducting a transparent census, and holding a referendum to allow residents to decide whether to join the Kurdistan Region or remain under federal administration.
RELATED: President Barzani renews push for federal council, resolution of disputed territories
Galbraith told Rudaw that Iraq’s constitution has not been fully implemented because Arab parties “agreed to something, but did not want to keep their part of the bargain.” He added that the Kurdish demands are reasonable and achievable, noting, “They [Kurdish parties] can do both of those things very quickly.”
He further emphasized that Iraq’s constitution is clear on federalism, granting regions significant autonomy, including the ability to amend or cancel federal laws, maintain their own president, parliament, and military, and develop oil fields.
The Kurdistan Region held long-delayed parliamentary elections in October 2024, with the KDP winning 39 seats and the PUK 23. As no party secured a majority, coalition talks are ongoing.
Speaking at the MEPS forum on Wednesday, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani - who serves as Second Deputy Leader of the KDP - stated that his part had hoped the tenth cabinet would be formed “immediately after the elections” and be “inclusive,” but progress was slowed by the PUK’s insistence on posts not proportional to its vote share.
For his part, PUK leader Bafel Talabani has reiterated in recent weeks that his party will not join a new KRG cabinet without guarantees of equitable power-sharing and equal service provision across the region.#BREAKING: Kurdistan Region PM Masrour Barzani said that while his party wanted the KRG's tenth cabinet to be formed "immediately after the elections" and for it to be "inclusive," however "when it came to positions," the PUK "were insisting on some very unreasonable positions." pic.twitter.com/c2zrCX3Auy
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) November 19, 2025
For his part, Galbraith described it as “a bad thing when you have elections and you then don't form a government.”
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