PUK highlights cooperation in messages to Gorran on party anniversary
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leaders highlighted cooperation and unity in their congratulations to Gorran on the 12th anniversary of its establishment, after an internal power struggle in the PUK cast doubts on their election alliance, named the Kurdistan Coalition.
“On this occasion, as the PUK, we emphasize the continuation of our efforts for the success of Kurdistan Coalition, and meeting the needs of the people,” read a statement from PUK co-president Bafel Talabani.
“Today, the people of Kurdistan expect more from the PUK and Gorran, for them to take bigger steps in favor of Kurdistan and the common good in a political and national framework,” he added.
Gorran was founded in 2009 by a breakaway group of PUK members disgruntled with the parent party’s politics. They were led by the late Nawshirwan Mustafa, a longtime friend of the late PUK founder Jalal Talabani, and set out to be an opposition movement.
The two parties have had a rocky relationship, competing for votes in their Sulaimani base. Gorran beat the PUK in the 2013 elections for the regional parliament. In the current government, Gorran is a member of the cabinet.
In the Iraqi parliament, they hold a combined 23 seats and hope that running as a coalition in the October election will expand their presence in Baghdad. For many supporters of both parties the coalition announcement in May was a long awaited reunion.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Qubad Talabani, a member of the PUK, also sent his congratulations in a Facebook post addressed to Gorran leader Omar Sayid Ali, saying that cooperation between their parties was the last wish of their late founders.
“It is both the PUK’s and Gorran’s duty from top to bottom to work for the success of the Kurdistan Coalition in the upcoming Iraqi parliament elections,” he said. “We are stronger together and we can achieve a lot together.”
The status of the alliance was called into doubt earlier this month because of internal problems in the PUK. Lahur Talabany, co-president of the PUK, was a key negotiator bringing his party and Gorran together and he was chosen to lead the coalition. After a power struggle with his co-chair, however, he announced that he had stepped down from his position as the head of the coalition and was entrusting his co-chair cousin and the party’s leadership council with the task of electing someone new. Talabany also handed over his powers as PUK co-chair to his cousin Bafel Talabani.
With the change in leadership, the PUK also began a push for internal reform. “PUK stands by its decision and promises. This time we will work for reform and change, and we will face off irregularities with an iron fist,” said Qubad Talabani. “We assure everyone that from now on, the results of our efforts toward reform and ending corruption will be apparent.”
Iraq will hold elections on October 10, ahead of schedule. Early elections were one of the demands of protesters who took to the streets in October 2019 across central and southern Iraq.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also sent his congratulations to Gorran, saying the party "has contributed greatly to the political process in the Kurdistan Region."
"I hope such occasions encourage us to further consolidate unity, consensus and partnership among all sides and communities in order to resolve crises and hardships. We need to stand united to defend the constitutional entity of the Kurdistan Region and to be able to provide better services to our people," he added.
“On this occasion, as the PUK, we emphasize the continuation of our efforts for the success of Kurdistan Coalition, and meeting the needs of the people,” read a statement from PUK co-president Bafel Talabani.
“Today, the people of Kurdistan expect more from the PUK and Gorran, for them to take bigger steps in favor of Kurdistan and the common good in a political and national framework,” he added.
Gorran was founded in 2009 by a breakaway group of PUK members disgruntled with the parent party’s politics. They were led by the late Nawshirwan Mustafa, a longtime friend of the late PUK founder Jalal Talabani, and set out to be an opposition movement.
The two parties have had a rocky relationship, competing for votes in their Sulaimani base. Gorran beat the PUK in the 2013 elections for the regional parliament. In the current government, Gorran is a member of the cabinet.
In the Iraqi parliament, they hold a combined 23 seats and hope that running as a coalition in the October election will expand their presence in Baghdad. For many supporters of both parties the coalition announcement in May was a long awaited reunion.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Qubad Talabani, a member of the PUK, also sent his congratulations in a Facebook post addressed to Gorran leader Omar Sayid Ali, saying that cooperation between their parties was the last wish of their late founders.
“It is both the PUK’s and Gorran’s duty from top to bottom to work for the success of the Kurdistan Coalition in the upcoming Iraqi parliament elections,” he said. “We are stronger together and we can achieve a lot together.”
The status of the alliance was called into doubt earlier this month because of internal problems in the PUK. Lahur Talabany, co-president of the PUK, was a key negotiator bringing his party and Gorran together and he was chosen to lead the coalition. After a power struggle with his co-chair, however, he announced that he had stepped down from his position as the head of the coalition and was entrusting his co-chair cousin and the party’s leadership council with the task of electing someone new. Talabany also handed over his powers as PUK co-chair to his cousin Bafel Talabani.
With the change in leadership, the PUK also began a push for internal reform. “PUK stands by its decision and promises. This time we will work for reform and change, and we will face off irregularities with an iron fist,” said Qubad Talabani. “We assure everyone that from now on, the results of our efforts toward reform and ending corruption will be apparent.”
Iraq will hold elections on October 10, ahead of schedule. Early elections were one of the demands of protesters who took to the streets in October 2019 across central and southern Iraq.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also sent his congratulations to Gorran, saying the party "has contributed greatly to the political process in the Kurdistan Region."
"I hope such occasions encourage us to further consolidate unity, consensus and partnership among all sides and communities in order to resolve crises and hardships. We need to stand united to defend the constitutional entity of the Kurdistan Region and to be able to provide better services to our people," he added.