President Barzani meets Sunni leaders to advance Iraq government formation

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday led a high-profile Kurdish delegation to meet with prominent Sunni Arab politicians in Baghdad, including Iraqi Parliament Speaker Haibet al-Halbousi and leaders of the National Political Council, as efforts to advance the formation of Iraq’s next government continue.

President Barzani headed a delegation comprising senior Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) figures in a meeting with Halbousi, where discussions focused on “the political and legal situation in the country and the role of legislative institutions in supporting stability,” according to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.

The meeting “emphasized the importance of understanding between political forces and coordination between Erbil and Baghdad to overcome challenges in a way that serves the public interest of the country,” and underlined “the need to unify visions to address pending issues based on the constitution and to protect citizens’ rights.”

Moreover, the figures touched on regional developments stressing the importance of “maintaining peace and stability, safeguarding Iraq’s higher interests, and avoiding involvement in regional complexities.”

For its part, the Speaker’s office said President Barzani and the KDP delegation met with Halbousi “in the presence of several leaders and members of the Taqaddum Party,” of which he is a member, where they discussed “the overall situation in the country and ongoing consultations on the formation of the next government.”

The meeting saw the top figures stress “the importance of ensuring that the government program responds to the requirements and challenges of the current phase.”

After his meeting with the Parliament Speaker, President Barzani met with prominent politicians from the National Political Council - a unified umbrella framework formed by major Sunni parties to coordinate positions and protect constitutional rights following the 2025 Iraqi parliamentary elections.

The figures included the head of the Taqaddum Party and former Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi (2018 - 2023), as well as prominent Sunni politician and businessman Khamis al-Khanjar, leader of the Sovereignty Alliance.

In a statement, the Kurdistan Region Presidency said the meeting included discussions on “the country’s political situation and the need to unify efforts to strengthen stability,” with the participants stressing “the importance of national dialogue and understanding among all components and political forces as key to resolving issues, in a way that safeguards the rights and entitlements of all parties.”

On government formation, they urged that Iraq’s next government “be based on genuine partnership and balance among the country’s components, with service delivery and reconstruction as top priorities.”

The National Political Council leaders also expressed “their appreciation for President Nechirvan Barzani’s balanced and national role in bringing parties closer together and defending the constitutional rights of all components of Iraq.”

At the regional level, the meeting emphasized “the importance of preserving stability and keeping the country away from tensions,” while also highlighting “the importance of protecting Iraq’s higher interests and national sovereignty.”

Later in the evening, President Barzani met with another prominent figure from the Council, Iraqi politician Muthanna al-Samarrai, head of the Azm Alliance.

The Kurdistan Region Presidency reported that the meeting focused on “Iraq’s political process and steps toward forming a new government,” emphasizing “the importance of adhering to constitutional timelines following the designation of the prime minister-designate.”

Both sides agreed on “the need to strengthen coordination and understanding between Baghdad and Erbil,” while also stressing “the active role of the Kurdistan Region in Baghdad as a foundation for resolving outstanding issues.”

They also discussed the importance of establishing “balanced relations among political parties,” emphasizing cooperation to preserve stability and safeguard the country’s higher interests.

For its part, Samarrai’s office reported that “the meeting discussed the latest political developments, particularly the issue of forming the new Iraqi government,” underlining “the importance of strengthening coordination and understanding between Baghdad and Erbil, and working jointly to resolve outstanding issues.”

The meeting also “highlighted the close relationship between the Azm Alliance and the Kurdistan Democratic Party, which enhances opportunities for cooperation and understanding in the next phase,” the statement concluded.

Earlier in the day, President Barzani met with Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi who told Rudaw that he reached a “good understanding” with the Kurdish president during their meeting in Baghdad, as talks to form a new federal government gather pace.

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