PUK Weakened but not Crippled by Talabani’s Absence, Official Says

 ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one of the two ruling  parties inside the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), misses its ill leader but is not crippled by his absence, a senior party official said.

Jalal Talabani, Iraq’s president and leader of the PUK for decades, has been recuperating in Germany since suffering a serious stroke in December.  He has been a towering father-figure of the Kurdish struggle and there have been many rumors that his party has been left rudderless by his absence.  

Saadi Ahmed Pira, senior leader of the PUK, said that contrary to rumors the party was meeting regularly to discuss various issues, and was not preoccupied only by its internal crisis.

"The meetings are to discuss the opposition affairs," he said, as well as the “PUK’s relations with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the situation in Kirkuk, and the developments in the Arab Sunni regions."

Pira said that Kosrat Rasul Ali, who was appointed the PUK’s acting head in Talabani’s absence, “Has all the authority of Talabani, but he is not Jalal Talabani.” 

 He said that the PUK is directed primarily by its high ranking members. "Our (high-ranking members) work hard to ensure that the PUK will continue on its path, even when Talabani is not here," Pira said.  "As a matter of fact, according to the recent statistics PUK has improved after Talabani’s hospitalization."

Pira explained that Talabani’s absence was still acutely felt.  "There are a lot of things that we cannot do, but Talabani was able to do," Pira said.  "The impact of his absence is felt not only on the PUK, but also on the KDP and the whole of Iraq.”

Pira confirmed rumors that the president’s health is improving, but said it was too early to discuss his return to office.