ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani announced on Thursday that his party has decided to withdraw from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet in protest against the reactivation of the Kurdistan Parliament without the PUK’s participation, declaring the legislature illegitimate.
“This government has failed. Therefore, the first decision of the PUK leadership following this thing [parliament reactivation] is that we will immediately withdraw from this failed government, which calls itself the government of Kurdistan,” Talabani said in a video message.
“What does this mean? It means that we will use all the force and strength we have to provide people living in our areas [Sulaimani and Halabja] with anything they need,” he said.
Talabani also dismissed the parliament’s reactivation, saying the move would not succeed and that his party would not recognize the legislature.
His remarks came after a meeting of the PUK leadership earlier on Thursday, a day after the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) spearheaded an initiative to reconvene parliament with the support of several minority representatives, smaller parties and lawmakers who broke ranks with their parties, including three PUK members.
Talabani said the PUK leadership had authorized him to take any decisions he deemed necessary in response to the latest political developments.
The move marks a significant escalation in tensions between the Kurdistan Region’s two main ruling parties, which have been locked in a prolonged dispute over the formation of a new regional government following the October 2024 parliamentary elections.
Wednesday's session was attended by 52 lawmakers, narrowly exceeding the 51-member quorum required in the 100-seat legislature. The lawmakers unanimously elected KDP politician Vala Farid as parliament speaker, Christian quota representative Rami Noori as deputy speaker and Turkmen quota representative Muna Qahwachi as secretary.
The parliament had remained effectively paralyzed since its inaugural session in December 2024, with the KDP and PUK unable to agree on the distribution of senior government positions and the formation of the tenth KRG cabinet.
The KDP, which won 39 seats in the October 2024 elections, has insisted that parliament should resume its work independently of negotiations to form a new government. The PUK, which secured 23 seats, has demanded an agreement on key government positions before the legislature reconvenes.
The two parties have traditionally shared power in the Kurdistan Region, with the KDP holding the presidency and premiership in recent administrations. However, the PUK has sought a greater share of senior positions, including half of the next cabinet, complicating negotiations between the longtime rivals.
Ahead of Wednesday's session, the PUK called on political parties to boycott the proceedings, describing the initiative as “illegal, far removed from the principles of genuine partnership, and it is an attempt to impose the will of a single party.”
The KDP has defended the move, maintaining that the reactivation of parliament was conducted through a legal and democratic process and was not directed against any political party.
“This government has failed. Therefore, the first decision of the PUK leadership following this thing [parliament reactivation] is that we will immediately withdraw from this failed government, which calls itself the government of Kurdistan,” Talabani said in a video message.
“What does this mean? It means that we will use all the force and strength we have to provide people living in our areas [Sulaimani and Halabja] with anything they need,” he said.
Talabani also dismissed the parliament’s reactivation, saying the move would not succeed and that his party would not recognize the legislature.
His remarks came after a meeting of the PUK leadership earlier on Thursday, a day after the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) spearheaded an initiative to reconvene parliament with the support of several minority representatives, smaller parties and lawmakers who broke ranks with their parties, including three PUK members.
Talabani said the PUK leadership had authorized him to take any decisions he deemed necessary in response to the latest political developments.
The move marks a significant escalation in tensions between the Kurdistan Region’s two main ruling parties, which have been locked in a prolonged dispute over the formation of a new regional government following the October 2024 parliamentary elections.
Wednesday's session was attended by 52 lawmakers, narrowly exceeding the 51-member quorum required in the 100-seat legislature. The lawmakers unanimously elected KDP politician Vala Farid as parliament speaker, Christian quota representative Rami Noori as deputy speaker and Turkmen quota representative Muna Qahwachi as secretary.
The parliament had remained effectively paralyzed since its inaugural session in December 2024, with the KDP and PUK unable to agree on the distribution of senior government positions and the formation of the tenth KRG cabinet.
The KDP, which won 39 seats in the October 2024 elections, has insisted that parliament should resume its work independently of negotiations to form a new government. The PUK, which secured 23 seats, has demanded an agreement on key government positions before the legislature reconvenes.
The two parties have traditionally shared power in the Kurdistan Region, with the KDP holding the presidency and premiership in recent administrations. However, the PUK has sought a greater share of senior positions, including half of the next cabinet, complicating negotiations between the longtime rivals.
Ahead of Wednesday's session, the PUK called on political parties to boycott the proceedings, describing the initiative as “illegal, far removed from the principles of genuine partnership, and it is an attempt to impose the will of a single party.”
The KDP has defended the move, maintaining that the reactivation of parliament was conducted through a legal and democratic process and was not directed against any political party.
Updated at 11:08 pm
