ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani arrived in Baghdad on Monday to hold a series of high-level meetings with Iraq's Shiite and Sunni political leaders as efforts have ramped up to form the country’s next federal government and address key issues in relations between Erbil and Baghdad.
President Barzani, who also acts as deputy president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), is expected to meet with senior officials of the Coordination Framework, the largest parliamentary bloc in Iraq composed mainly of Shiite parties, at the residence of Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition.
The discussions are expected to focus heavily on government formation mechanisms and the distribution of ministerial posts.
The visit comes at a critical political moment, as cabinet formation talks accelerate ahead of constitutional deadlines. On Saturday, Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi visited the Kurdistan Region, where he met senior Kurdish leaders in Erbil and Sulaimani as part of his efforts to form his cabinet.
President Barzani is also set to meet with outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, as well as Zaidi, who was tasked with forming the new cabinet following his nomination on April 27 and given a 30-day constitutional deadline.
Rudaw has learned that President Barzani’s visit includes consultations with various Iraqi Sunni political parties as part of broader negotiations to secure consensus on the new government.
His delegation includes Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, KRG Chief of Staff Fawzi Hariri, Presidential Assistant Falah Mustafa, Head of the Presidency Office Nouri Osman, and Abdulhakim Khusro, head of the KRG Department of Coordination and Follow-up.
Aqeel Rudaini, spokesperson for the Nasr Coalition led by Haider al-Abadi, told Rudaw on Monday that the talks in Baghdad will focus on “the mechanisms for forming the new cabinet and the distribution of ministerial posts.”
Rudaini added that parliamentary timelines are tightening due to the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage, warning that delays could create legal complications. He said many MPs are expected to travel for Hajj, increasing pressure to finalize the cabinet quickly so it can be voted on before the holiday period of Eid al-Adha.
Ali al-Daffayi, spokesperson for the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, told Rudaw that the new cabinet "will be formed before the constitutional deadline of the 27th of this month.”
President Barzani’s visit to Baghdad comes at a time when the region is undergoing monumental changes, driven by the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iraq has found itself caught in the crossfire, as hundreds of drones and missiles have been launched by Iran and its affiliated militias within the country.
Updated at 10:49am
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment