Kurdistan
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, in a meeting with Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) leader Salahaddin Bahaaddin in Erbil on May 23, 2026. Photo: Kurdistan Region Presidency
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Saturday received Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) leader Salahaddin Bahaaddin, who has been leading an initiative aimed at reactivating the parliament and breaking the political deadlock over the formation of a new government.
According to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency, “Their discussion focused on the internal situation in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Both sides emphasized the necessity of resolving the political impasse that has affected the political process in the Kurdistan Region.”
The meeting comes amid a prolonged political stalemate in the Kurdistan Region, where the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have failed to form a new cabinet since parliamentary elections held in October 2024.
President Barzani, who is the first deputy leader of the KDP, “expressed his support” for Bahaaddin’s initiative and “highlighted the importance of continuing efforts that serve the broader interests of the Kurdistan Region, which is expected of all parties,” the statement added.
On Monday, the KIU leader met Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, also the second deputy leader of the KDP, to present his initiative aimed at ending the political deadlock. He also met PUK leader Bafel Talabani on Sunday for the same purpose.
KIU spokesperson Salahaddin Babakir told Rudaw on Monday that both Prime Minister Barzani and PUK Leader Talabani had welcomed the initiative.
In the elections, the KDP won 39 seats, and the PUK secured 23 in the 100-seat parliament, with no party achieving a majority. Talks on forming a new government have stalled over disputes on governance structures and key ministerial posts.
Smaller parties, including the KIU, the New Generation Movement (NGM), and the National Stance Movement (Halwest), hold additional seats that have further complicated coalition-building efforts.
Tensions have also increased due to disagreements over potential alliances, including the PUK’s coordination with the opposition NGM, which has become a point of contention in ongoing negotiations over the formation of the next cabinet.
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