ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani said on Wednesday that the latest high-level meetings between the ruling parties have accelerated the formation of the upcoming government cabinet, expecting a final agreement soon. Talabani, who is also a senior member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), said in a Facebook post that after his party and its main rival, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), “agreed on a draft for a common vision for governance, the government formation process has accelerated and we are optimistic about signing a final agreement soon.” Earlier in the week, both ruling parties held high-level meetings following months of discussions between negotiation committees. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, who is also a deputy KDP leader, met with the PUK leader Bafel Talabani in Erbil on Sunday, where they discussed the formation of the new cabinet. Both sides said that they had made “very good” progress in the government formation process. Earlier on Wednesday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also received ambassador Fontana in Erbil, where they discussed the ongoing efforts to form the Kurdistan Region’s new government. Barzani described the progress as positive. The Kurdistan Region held delayed parliamentary elections in October. The KDP came out on top, securing 39 spots in the 100-member legislature. The PUK came in second with 23 seats. Since no single party won a majority, a governing coalition will need to be formed, as has traditionally been the case, to form a new cabinet. However, the two parties have not yet finalized their agreement. Following the elections, PUK leaders have repeatedly emphasized the need to work in partnership with the KDP to establish a robust and inclusive governing structure. Though the KDP and PUK are rivals, they have shared power in government since the establishment of the Kurdistan Region in the 1990s.
